Nahum – End time Prophecy, and Current events
As the world continues to fall away from obedience to and love of G-d’s instructions (the written and Living Torah; not the traditions of men), and blindly attempt to explain the rapid increase in devastating events such as crime, secular humanistic teaching, earthquakes, and most recently the Corona Virus, I am compelled as Rabbi to provide biblical explanations for such events and the remedy. Those who read this article and future postings related to this subject are encouraged to inquire and seek further information through humility, prayer, and a true desire to know the truth of current world events. For those who are learning and living G-d’s instructions, there is peace in the midst of every storm, although a profound sense of sadness for and frustration with those who seek human explanations for all that is affecting our world in this age. Although the reader may disagree with the information presented in this article, with G-d’s help,even the most skeptical will at least investigate the subject and look to G-d’s Word for verification. May it be so for G-d’s glory.
Nahum is listed as number seven among the twelve Minor Prophets. Some commentators believe he lived in Capernaum, which means “village of Nahum. Nahum’s name means “a consolation” probably referring to the nature of his prophecy, the “burden of Nineveh.” His message of impending judgment upon Nineveh was a comfort to the Jewish people. Assyria had conquered northern Israel and carried 10 tribes into captivity.
The two southern tribes Judah and Benjamin which for almost a century had been under the domination and oppression of Nineveh and they were afraid that the Assyrian army would destroy what was left of their fragmented kingdom. Nahum addressed his message to them. Nahum’s prophecy of the destruction of Nineveh came about 150 years after Jonah preached to Nineveh and a great repentance and turning to YHVH took place. In less than 150 years Nineveh had left YHVH and returned to their wicked way and this time YHVH Elohim was not changing His mind. Nineveh would be destroyed.
Nineveh derives its name from the “moon goddess,” Ishtar. It was built was built by Asshur in the days when Nimrod built the Tower of Babel. You could say Nineveh was synonymous with Babylon both religiously and politically. However, Babylon was built primarily to honor the sun god, Baal. Paradoxically, Nineveh was related to the moon as Babylon was related to the sun. Ishtar being the wife of the sun god.
It is interesting to note that in ancient cuneiform sign language Nineveh was depicted by a fish within and enclosure. Something like the “Christian” fish symbols seen on cars today. From a prophetic viewpoint, Nineveh seems to represent a form of Gentile Christianity. Nineveh is portrayed as an apostate religion in the form or Mystery Babylon. We read in Nahum 3:4.
“Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.”
We might also consider that Israel’s earlier prophets through their writings before the destruction of Nineveh considered the city on the same level with what later prophets described as the harlotry of Babylon. Revelation chapters 17 and18 gives us a picture of that wicked future religious system called.
“Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.”
We all know from earlier teaching that Mystery Babylon represents the Catholic Church and her daughters Protestant Christianity. Sunday worshippers, antinomians and the like.
Rome ruled Judea by the time John wrote Revelation and he described the future Mystery Babylon the Great as Rome which set upon seven hills. This Rome, the same Rome that executed the Messiah would produce the anti messiah, haSatan’s vicar upon earth ruling in his stead, the future seed that will establish a diabolical system of world government and eventually bring down the judgment of YHVH Elohim upon a haSatan’s evil empire.
Nahum describes his prophecies as being received by a vision; therefore, we must allow that they have come to us in visionary language. Nahum also lets us know that his prophecies are for us as well as for his own day because he employs the key word “vengeance” used by other prophets to convey the time of the Battle of Armageddon, the last great future battle between good and evil.
In the very beginning of this book we read:
“Elohim is jealous, and YHVH revengeth; YHVH revengeth, and is furious; YHVH will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.”
Vengeance was also a term used in Isaiah 61 to describe the Second Coming of Yahshua, the day of vengeance of our Elohim. And in chapter 63, Isaiah recorded the Messiah as saying: “the day of vengeance is in mine heart.” (Isa. 63:4)
And in Nahum 1:5 we see the results of YHVH vengeance upon a wicked earth:
“The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.”
This description includes the whole world and not just a city sitting on the banks of the Tigris River. There can be no doubt that Nahum’s prophecies have relevance for us today.
In Nahum 1:10 we see the symbol of thorns as an apocalyptic symbol of the anti messiah. Let me read:
“For while they be folded together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.” (Nahum 1:10)
The anti-messiah is seen throughout the Tanakh as symbolized by the thorn. It all began with Adam and the curse of the earth by YHVH when He said: “the ground will bring forth “thorns: alluding to the great enemy of humankind HaSatan as well as an unproductive earth. In Judges 9, the parable of the thorn was given by Jotham the son of Gideon. He said that the forest went forth to find a king to reign over them. They considered the olive tree, the fig, and the vine but each declined. They finally settled upon the bramble bush that according to Jotham is a picture of his wicked brother Abimilech who is turn is a type of the anti messiah. Throughout the Old Testament, there are references to thorns when describing the anti-messiah. Micah 7:4 in his book makes a reference to thorns. The crown of thorns upon the head of Yahshua was a further fulfillment of Jotham’s prophecy for when the bramble bush was asked to be king over the trees of the forest, he accepted, saying that all the trees must come under his shadow indicating that he must be exalted at the head of the nations but the adverse side of this prophecy is that one day in the not too distant future, another, the anti-messiah will attempt to establish a world government bent on making slaves of all the inhabitants of the earth and he will be the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy, before the rightful ruler Yahshua HaMashiach takes the throne.
Nahum also describes the anti-messiah as the wicked counselor in verse 11, Let me read:
“There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against YHVH, a wicked counsellor.”
However, we see in verse 14 that Nahum describes this “wicked counselor” as being destined to be destroyed.
“And YHVH hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.”
We ask ourselves when will this “thorn”, this “wicked counselor” be destroyed? The answer is in the next verse of the Second Coming of Yahshua as described by Nahum:
“Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.”
Then in chapter two, we see the symbol of a flood to describe the downfall of Nineveh under the onslaught of the Babylonian forces:
“The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.”
In extra biblical writings we have extant an account of this prophecies fulfillment. Diordorus Siculus wrote referring to Nahum’s prophecy:
According to this historian we learn that the King of Nineveh was aware of Nahum’s prophecy and committed suicide rather than face the Babylonia army. Let me read:
“There was an old prophecy that Nineveh should not be taken until the river became and enemy to the city. And in the third year of the siege, the river being swollen with continual rains, overflowed every part of the city, and broke down the wall for 20 furlongs: then the king thinking that the oracle was fulfilled, and the river became an enemy to the city, built a large funeral pile in the place and collecting together all his wealth and his concubines and eunuchs, burnt himself and the palace with them all; and the enemy entered at the breach that the waters had made and took the city.
It is interesting to us that a flood accompanied the fall of Nineveh for the flood became a metaphor for war. Our sages commented upon this in Psalms 93:3, where we see the destruction of the anti-messiah and his system referred to in this way in Psalms 93:3:
“The floods have lifted up, O YHVH, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
The sages said that the three words translated as floods in this passage, first refers to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians; the second refers to the destruction of the Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE, but the third points to the future battle of Gog and Magog, referred to and elaborated upon in these series of messages as the coming war with Russia and her allies, when they swoop down upon Israel.
We see Daniel also used the metaphor of a flood when he wrote in Daniel 9:26 the following:
“ And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
Again, in chapter 11, verse 22, Daniel described the time of the anti-messiah:
“And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken…”
Furthermore, Yahshua HaMashiach made a reference to the future flood in Luke 17:26 saying:
“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”
Nahum was right on target. He not only predicted the destruction of Nineveh that has been fulfilled, but we can be assured that his prediction the future judgment of the false religious system Mystery Babylon will occur probably in this age.
We reap what we sew and just as Nineveh had destroyed other cities she too was destroyed. Mystery Babylon and her evil system is destroying souls and she to shall reap what she has sown.
Nahum confirmed this when he wrote in chapter 3: 7-10:
“ And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?
Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.
Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.”
Thebes the ancient capital of Upper Egypt was destroyed by the Assyrians in 666 BCE. Nahum identified it as “No” in verse 8 just read. The modern name for Thebes or No is Luxor. Here in these verses we see Nahum declare Nineveh is no better off than the Egyptian city she destroyed for so shall Nineveh be destroyed. In the same manner in the future we shall also see that great city Mystery Babylon with its worldwide evil influence destroyed.
Nahum then concludes his prophecy by saying:
“There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit (news) of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?”
Nahum wrote, “There is no healing,” only awesome destruction. No mercy shall be given, it is passed that time, only judgment of a wicked world system of false religion upon Mystery Babylon and her daughters. The saved of the ages shall clap their hands and rejoice for the murders and deceivers or YHVH’s chosen shall be destroyed. That old serpent and his system is destroyed and the King of Glory, will sit upon His throne ruling the nations for eternity.
This is only one narrative of many I will post in the future that I submit will and is affecting the world, including America. We, like the Israelites in the past, once lived as a quintessential example of G-d’s blessings on a people who at one time loved Him, His commands and statutes. But just as the Temples were destroyed because of the progressive assimilation and practice of idolatry by the Israelites to include sacrificing their children in the arms of an idol, worshipping false gods,
and total disregard for G-d’s commands,so has America turned away from G-d and has removed him from every aspect of our society. Secular Humanism is taught to our children, teaching that there is no G-d; that whatever the individual thinks is right at the time is right; that there are no longer any rules. Inclusion is the order of the day and there are no longer any winners or losers. Everyone wins and gets a prize, taking away any sense of healthy competition among individuals to better themselves.
Many churches teach a once saved always saved message that abrogates all of G-d’s laws and commands. Forbidden food is permitted in these institutions because of a misinterpretation of scripture. The Sabbath of G-d was changed by the Catholic Church who claims to have the authority for such an abomination. Gay and lesbian individuals are now included and even welcomed, with some becoming clergy. Secular Humanistic and Reform Judaism teaches doctrine not consistent with G-d’s instructions in order to increase numbers and income! Easy non-accountability religion is taught from the pulpits in order to make the people feel “good” and “spirit-filled.” But I submit the spirit that repetitious music and trances that evoke such feelings is not the Spirit of G-d. Few congregants in such churches ask questions about inconsistencies in the English that are found in the Bible that are only answered in the Hebrew. The majority wants to be entertained and not taught. This is the “itching ears” concept described by Yahshua in His time (2 Tim. 4:3-4).Is it any wonder we are suffering unprecedented events that are passed off as “normal cycles” or not explained at all? Let me offer a few scriptural references that explain many if not all of the adverse events and changes affecting our world today.
We must start with the correct understanding that the Israelites spoken of in the Old Testament are representative of ANYONE, Jew or Gentile, who considers him or herself a true believer defined by YHVH/Yahshua throughout G-d’s Torah.
Deut. 28:58-62. If you will not observe and obey all the words of this Torah (instructions) that are written in this book, so that you will fear this glorious and awesome name, Adonai your G-d; then Adonai will strike down you and your descendants with extraordinary plagues and severe sicknesses that go on and on. He will bring back upon you all the diseases the Egyptians had, which you were in dread of; and they will cling to you. Not only that, but Adonai will bring upon you all the sicknesses and plagues that are not written in this book of the Torah -until you are destroyed. You will be left few in number, whereas you were once as numerous as the stars in the sky- because you did not pay attention to the voice of Adonai your G-d.”
As our leaders and those responsible for teaching our children seek to strip us of our individual beliefs and differences in values under the guise of “inclusion,” may those who love the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remain a separate people follow G-d’s designated times, commands, and statutes, rather than giving in to the path of least resistance filled with paganism and idolatry. The order of the day is Secular Humanism, the doctrine of which few parents are even aware. Let anyone who is truly interested in what the Bible teaches on this false doctrine and other subjects humbly and earnestly seek the truth and wisdom from Above through prayer and credible teachers who follow G-d’s instructions. It is certain we cannot depend on human wisdom evidenced by history and present events. As the Torah informs us in Proverbs 14:12, Col.2:8; 1 Cor.3:191 Cor. 2:4-5; 1 Cor. 1:19-21’ 2 Tim. 4:3-4 that those who depend on human wisdom will be lost; that the wisdom of the world is foolishness with G-d. G-d will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables” (1 Tim 4:3-4). I would rather live for G-d and be called a fool and intolerant than assimilate into what is now touted as an inclusive, tolerant, all loving society. We will all stand before G-d one day and only He knows the final disposition of our souls. Let our natural sense of inquiry start asking such questions as “what could be the reason for the increase in devastating events such as increased cruelty, crime, plagues such as the current Corona Virus, famines, earthquakes and such in this day and age?” The answers are all found in G-d’s instructions (Torah). A good place to start is Deuteronomy 28:61 and Matthew 24.
May anyone who takes the time to read this article, consider its truth and application to our current events, dare to be different as true believers are commanded to be, and follow the King’s Highway to the end.
Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah-Davis-Hart