Postcards: Obadiah (Part 2)
It’s the End of the World as We Know It
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
02- 11-2024
It’s the End of the World
Radio evangelist Harold Camping predicted the rapture of the church would happen on May 21, 2011, with the end of the world happening three months later on October 21, 2011.
Many people quit their jobs, sold their possessions, and gave money to Camping’s ministry to publicize warnings to non-believers.
When the rapture didn’t happen in May he changed his prediction and said that the rapture and the end of the world would happen on the same day in October.
When that didn’t happen, he released a statement saying, “We humbly admit that we were wrong about the timing.” Many of his followers disavowed Camping, realizing he was a cult leader.
Herbert Armstrong was one of the first televangelists and the founder of the Worldwide Church of God. He predicted the end of the world in 1936, 1943, 1972, and 1975.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted that the end of the world would happen in 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, and 1984.
On December 21, 2012, many misinterpreted the Mayan calendar and announced the end of the world. A man in China even built an ark for his family to hide in. He also made a lot of money selling survival kits.
In 1806, a domesticated hen in Leeds, England began laying eggs inscribed with the message “Christ is Coming.” Many people flocked to see the hen. Unfortunately, it was discovered the hen’s owner had written the message on the eggs and reinserted them into the poor hen’s body.
From Y2K to the Haley’s comet panic of 1910, people have been predicting the end of the world even though Jesus specifically said that only the Father knows the time of His return. (Matt 24:36)
Vermin Supreme, who is running for president for the fourth time, is the only candidate with a plan for the end of the world zombie apocalypse.
There have been dozens of end-of-the-world movies, ranging from the profane “This is the End” to the comical “Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the atom bomb” to the Christian cheese of the Left Behind movies.
With all these false predictions no wonder the rock group REM cynically sang, “It’s the end of the world as we know it / and I feel fine!”
Review from Last Week
Last week, we covered verses 1-14 of the minor prophet Obadiah and learned that the Edomites would be judged for their pride, self-sufficiency, and “violence toward their brother Israelites.”
Obadiah announced that the destruction would be final, systematic, and total.
Esau and Jacob were the twin sons of Issac and Rebecca whose conflict started in the womb. Their descendants were still fighting centuries later.
What exactly did the Edomites do?
When Israel came out of Egypt and wanted to pass through the land of the Edomites to enter into the Promised Land, the Edomites wouldn’t let them (Numbers 20:14-21).
· The Edomites opposed Saul and were conquered under David and Solomon (1 Samuel 14:47, 2 Samuel 8:14, 1 Kings 9:26).
· In the days of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Edom joined with Moab and Ammon to attack Judah, but the Lord fought for Judah and defeated them (see 2 Chronicles 20:1-27, which describes the famous battle that was led with praise).
· The Edomites successfully rebelled against King Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 8:16-22).
· King Amaziah of Judah brought them back under subjugation (2 Kings 14:9-11).
· The Edomites again attacked Judah in the days of King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:17).
What we will learn is that the Edomites kicked Israel when they were down and God is going to deal with them for that.
* They Refused to Help
On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
When the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem in 586 BC and razed it to the ground, the Edomites did nothing.
It becomes obvious that Obadiah was a witness to this scene.
They watched from the sidelines. They refused to help.
* They rejoiced in their misfortune
You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble.
Look at the words that Obadiah uses - gloat, rejoice, boast. This wasn’t just passive. They enjoyed watching the destruction and verbalized joy over the misfortune of their brothers.
David wrote:
“Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7)
They ran into to take advantage
"You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster.
They not only watched and rejoiced, but they went in after the Babylonians and divided the plunder.
Ezekiel wrote:
"…this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.” (Ezek 36:5)
But wait, there’s more!
You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble.”
They set up roadblocks for the Israelites trying to escape and either killed them or delivered them to the Babylonians.
Because, as God has made clear again and again, if you mess with His people you will feel His wrath.
If you align yourself against God and His people, you will be judged for your actions.
God promised Abraham that “those that bless you I will bless and those that curse you I will curse.” (Gen 12:3)
If you weren’t here last week, you can watch the first part of the sermon on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or our website.
Turn to Obadiah 15.
Prayer.
The Day of the Lord
Verse 15 is the hinge verse of Obadiah. He broadens his scope from the judgment of Edom to the reckoning of the nations.
“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” (V15)
Throughout the first section of the book, Obadiah called out Edom’s opposition toward Israel on the “day of their disaster.”
But he says that there is a day of disaster that is coming on all nations that oppose God’s people.
“The day of the Lord” is a theme of the Old Testament prophets occurring over twenty times:
Amos 5:18-20:
“Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?”
Joel 3:14-15:
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble.”
Wait. Hold on. I thought God was a God of love.
But one of His many attributes is perfect justice:
“The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name— he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.” (Psalm 99:1-5)
“‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I the Lord was there, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you. Then you will know that I the Lord have heard all the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.” You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.” (Ezek 35:10-13)
As James reminds us:
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Gal 6:7)
The Cup of Wrath
“Just as you drank on my holy hill, so all the nations will drink continually; they will drink and drink and be as if they had never been.” (V 16)
The “you” in verse 16 in singular means His people, the Israelites.
God sent prophet after prophet to warn his people of their idolatry and sin, but they wouldn’t listen. The northern Kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 BC.
Now, as Obadiah watches in horror, the southern kingdom falls to the Babylonians in 586 BC.
This was God’s punishment for Israel for turning her back on Him and worshipping other gods. But God will pay the nations back, starting with Babylon:
“A destroyer will come against Babylon; her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken. For the Lord is a God of retribution; he will repay in full.” (Jer 51:56)
God will make the nations drink the cup of His wrath until they are no more:
“I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.” In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.” (Zeph 1:17-18)
Isaiah says it this way:
“Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! The Lord is angry with all nations; his wrath is on all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out; their dead bodies will stink; the mountains will be soaked with their blood. All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll;
all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.” (Isaiah 34:1-4)
When we read passages like this, how should we react?
First, it begs the question, are you ready for His return?
Jesus said that His return would be like a thief in the night.
Second, it should increase our urgency to share the Gospel with those who don’t know Christ. There is a day coming when it will be too late.
Third, it should make us sing with joy because we know that on that day we will be safe. I quoted Joel about the day of the Lord. This is how that passage ends:
“But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.” (Joel 3:16)
We know that God poured out His wrath toward us onto Jesus on the cross so there is “therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
This section starts with bad news - the judgment at the end of time of all people who set themselves against God and His people.
But what was bad news for the nations is good news for Jacob!
Esau will be No More
“But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance. Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.” The Lord has spoken.” (17-18)
Reading these verses would have brought tears to the eyes of the Jewish people. The temple lay in ruins. They were being taken to Babylon in captivity. Had God abandoned them for good? Was He finally ready to wash His hands of them for the stiff-necked rebellion?
But God will again establish His holy rule and reign on Mt. Zion, symbolizing Jerusalem. In the future, He will once again reside among His people.
“What answer shall be given to the envoys of that nation “The Lord has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.” (Is 14:32)
Did you notice that he said Jacob and Joseph? Joseph represents the northern kingdom that was carried away to Assyria and ceased to exist.
Obadiah is predicting that there will be a time in the future when all of Israel will be reconciled to Him and the land promised to them. Romans 9-11 and we see the first fruits oof this when the state of Israel was established in 1948.
Edom represents the nations that oppose God. They will be like stubble, chaff, hay that quickly burns:
"For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause. Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch! It will not be quenched night or day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again.” (Isaiah 34:8-10)
Obadiah writes that God would break into human history, intervene in perfect righteousness on behalf of His people, lavish His blessing upon them, defeat their enemies, and set His people high above the nations.
Israel will Once Again Possess the Land
Obadiah writes that the Jewish people would once again inhabit the entire land promised to them - the new Jerusalem:
“People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead. This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan will possess the land as far as Zarephath; the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the towns of the Negev.” (V19-20)
We don’t have time to go through all the geography in these verses but the easiest way to understand it is that they will possess the land north, south, east, and west.
In Deuteronomy, Moses writes of a time coming when:
“…then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it.” (Deut 30:3-5)
The Kingdom is the Lord’s
“Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.” (V21)
Obadiah writes that “deliverers” will rule. This word means someone who rescues the helpless in desperate circumstances. These people will operate like the judges who rescued Israel time and time again.
There will be no such deliverance for Edom, Babylon, Philistia, Assyria, or anyone who has rejected his rule and reign.
He then ends with a promise that the kingdom will be the Lord’s.
“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.” (Psalm 22:27-28)
What can we learn?
The enemies of God will not escape justice, no matter how secure they may feel.
The Hebrew word for Edom is the same as the word for humanity “Adam.” Edom is a word picture of humans exalt themselves in self-sufficient pride against God.
There is a day of judgment coming. Are you ready?
The children of God will not endure suffering forever, no matter how hard life is.
There will be a day when the children of God will rule the kingdoms of this world.
The promises of God can be trusted and will occur at the right moment in time for His glory and our good.
Obadiah says that there will be an established King over all the nations.
I told you that the Edomites were no more. Do you know any Edomites? Have you ever eaten at an Edomite restaurant? Have you toured any Edomite ruins? No.
But that’s not exactly true. There was a remnant of Edomites that survived.
One of those Edomites was a ruler named Herod. By ancestry, he was an Edomite but had converted to Judaism. But he continued the animosity toward God’s plan by ordering the murder of all the baby boys two years and younger in Bethlehem.
Why? To try to kill the true King, Jesus! To stop Him from establishing the true Kingdom. To stop Him from dying on the cross, in our place, for our sins.
But the story of Obadiah, along with the entire Bible, is that God wins the battle for us and establishes his kingdom forever!
