“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 1:20 – 2:1
God gives visions to His people in order to bring forth His Word. Think about how much of the Old Testament would be missing if the prophets of old had not written down the things that they saw through the Holy Spirit of God. These visions may be prophetic and geared towards future times and events. They may be warning of impending judgement or of impending crisis. And they may be for the purpose of encouraging God’s people. All visions from God reveal information that helps His people walk through life on this Earth and they all reveal something about God’s character.
Verse 1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
This short book of the Old Testament concerns the nation of Edom. Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Jacob was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel, and Esau was the father of the Edomites who inhabited mount Seir which God gave to Esau for a possession. Israel was forbidden by God from invading the land of the Edomites. “Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.” Deuteronomy 2:5 There was always friction between Jacob and Esau, and that friction or disharmony carried on throughout subsequent generations. When Moses was leading the children of Israel in the wilderness, the Edomites refused them passage through their land and backed this up by coming out with an army in the event that Moses failed to comply. (see Numbers 20:14-21) Then after 40 years of living in the wilderness, the children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua again tried to pass through Edom and again they were refused. (see Judges 11:17) King Saul fought against Edom, and then during King David’s reign, the Edomites became his servants. (see 2 Samuel 8:14) Of course, the Edomites revolted against Israel when they could and this antagonism between the descendants of the two brothers, Jacob and Esau, continued and is mentioned in multiple places of Scripture. Eventually, many of the Edomites were forced to convert to Judaism, and when Greek became the international language, the Edomites were called Idumaeans, one of the more notorious being King Herod the Great who ordered the slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem in order to attempt to kill the infant LORD Jesus Christ.
The nation of Edom was not well favored among the other nations and in the verse above there is a call to fight against it.
Verses 2-4 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.
One of the capital cities of Edom was Sela and it is known today as Petra. The region the descendants of Esau occupied was full of red sandstone and Edom means “red”. So the people were given the name of Edom or the Edomites. Pictures of the ruins of Petra demonstrate that the Edomites were skilled and intelligent people who knew how to work this sandstone and create cities and architecture of beauty that is enjoyed today by tourists from all over the world.
The prophet Obadiah reports in these verses that the descendants of Esau were regarded with contempt (greatly despised) by other nations (heathen) as well as by the Israelites. They were also small or unimportant as a nation. But because of their location in mount Seir they apparently held themselves in high regard and felt they were invincible as far as being invaded and conquered by other nations. They had a pride problem and allowed themselves to be deceived in regards to their importance and their safety from foreign invasion. They had a sense of security because of their mountainous dwelling place that resulted in making them arrogant and self-reliant. They also rejected God. So God promised through the prophet Obadiah to bring them down through judgment.
Application: As stated in other places in this web site, the Jews of today are not descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but come from Khazaria of old which today is Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Crimea, and part of modern Russia. They have Idumean heritage although they have the satanic Babylonian religion of the Jews: Judaism. Just as back when Obadiah was writing these words describing Edom as “small”, the modern descendants of Esau are “small among the heathen” or few in number, but today they are running the governments of most of the world’s countries, the media, many international corporations, educational systems, and the banking systems. Just as they were “greatly despised” in passed history, they are despised today by many because of their pride, their claim to superiority over all other races of people, their cruelty, and their criminality. Jesus warned through His Jewish disciple, the Apostle John, about these fake Jews. “. . . I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Revelation 2:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Revelation 3:9 Modern “Israel” is like the Edomites of old in that their pride does not allow them to believe that they can be destroyed. They exalt themselves and, because they run the Washington DC government, they believe they can do what they want and the US military will fight all their wars for them and they will be protected by a country that has as its national symbol the bald eagle. But just as other evil nations have been judged and destroyed by God, so will modern Israel be brought down by God Almighty. Perhaps the genocide Israel is committing against the Palestinian people will be the beginning of their fall. Time will tell if the LORD Jesus delays His return.
Verses 5-7 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? 6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up! 7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.
Because of their isolated location, there is no one to help in times of trouble. The analogy of thieves helping themselves until they had all that they could steal indicates that the Edomites were not as secure as they thought they were. The Hebrew word translated as “grapegatherers” is “batsar” and it is an interesting word. It means to gather, restrain, fence, fortify, make inaccessible, enclose, to cut off, and to be withheld. It appears that those who the Edomites trusted would deceive and betray them. The Hebrew word translated as “confederacy” is “bariyth” and it means covenant, alliance, pledge, treaty, and agreement. So the nations or men that Edom is at peace with are the very ones who will prevail against them.
Application: In a similitude of prophecy, will the allies of the modern nation of Israel turn against her because of the atrocities she is inflicting on Gaza? As the world opinion becomes more and more disgusted with what appears to be a land grab by Israeli leadership via genocide of men, women and children who have dwelt in Gaza for the past 2000 years, will God bring destruction through war with other nations or through the Illuminati planned WW III? Like Jesus commanded, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Mark 13:33 and “Watch ye therefore, and pray always,that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:36
Verses 8-10 Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? 9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. 10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
Here God through the prophet Obadiah is clearly letting the Edomites know that His displeasure with them is because of their persecution and violence against what was at that time the Israel of God, the descendants of Jacob. They were blood relatives with the Hebrews and yet they continued to hate and to wish to injure them. So a righteous Judge was going to cut off their nation forever. And this prophecy came to pass, but the remnant of Edom lives on today.
Application: In a similitude of prophecy, God’s displeasure with the fake Jews of today is because of their persecution and violence against what is today the Israel of God, the Church. History proves that the Khazarian “Jews” have been behind most of the world’s unrest and wars. Their desire is to rid the Earth of most of its population so that the people remaining can be controlled and managed, and so that they can establish a one-world governmental system without God under the direction of their god, Leviathan or Satan. Their desire to ascend to godhood via their Judaic religion and to rule the goyim or Gentiles with their rod of iron is the driving force behind all that the Jewish leadership does today, their goal being to bring forth their new world order.
Verses 11-12 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. 12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
The Hebrew word translated as “stoodest” is “amad” and it means to take one’s stand. The Hebrew word translated as “other side” is “neged” and it means against, in the presence of, in front of, before, in the sight of, or at a distance. Basically, when Israel was taken captive by Assyria in 721 B.C. which ended the Kingdom of Israel, and then when Judah was taken captive by Babylon around 586 B.C. ending the rest of the Kingdom of Israel or the nation Judah, the Edomites did nothing to try and help them, but took the side of and joined the conquering nations and was glad at the plight of their relatives. See the verses 13 and 14 below. Even though the destruction of these two nations was God’s judgement because of their sin and rebellion against Him, He was not pleased with the response to the calamity of the Jews by the children or descendants of Esau. Brother against brother.
Application: Today there are many power elite people and heads of state that are an abomination to God and a harm to Christian believers, and believers may feel anger towards these people and their policies and their abuses of others. Believers may want these people to be judged by God and removed from this Earth. So when calamity befalls evil and wicked people (perhaps a health emergency or an accident or a loss of some kind) and their situation is proclaimed by the corrupt media, it is natural to be glad, like the Edomites were regarding Israel’s captivity, and to feel no sympathy towards them. But this attitude is from the flesh and not from the Spirit of God. The converted Christian believer should never rejoice in other’s misfortune or sorrow, but should pray for them and for God’s will to be done in their lives. God is not pleased with a vengeful or unloving response from His children. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44
Verses 13-14 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; 14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
The transgressions of the Edomites are further brought to light in the verses above. Not only did the nation rejoice at the conquering of the nations Israel and Judah by foreign, one world governments/nations, but they wanted to see the carnage and so went to the towns and cities of Israel and Judah and then plundered what they could find for themselves. Then, instead of helping and protecting those who escaped, they caught and turned in any Jew who was unfortunate enough to run into people from Edom while fleeing the devastation. The Edomites showed no mercy.
Application: Is there any of this behavior going on today? Are the descendants of Esau masquerading as modern Jews delighting in the death and carnage of the Palestinian people in Gaza? Are these “Jews” rejoicing over the Christian and Muslims in the day of their destruction? Are these “Jews” entering into the gates of the Palestinians, many of them God’s people, to lay their hands on the Palestinian substance which is their land and their possessions? Has the policy of the nation masquerading as Israel been one in which escape has been cut off for the people of Gaza so that there is no place they can go to save their lives or the lives of their children? Should God be pleased, or is His wrath being kindled against a wicked and perverse nation and against those nations and people, both in the Church and outside of the Church, that are supporting the killing and the violence and the genocide? Think about it.
Verses 15-16 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. 16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.
Here God promises to avenge the wrong that Edom committed and the wrong of ALL the heathen worldwide who have disregarded His commandments (thou shalt not kill, steal, covet, lie, and so forth) and followed the dictates of Satan. Whatever they did would be done unto them. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8
Application: Bible prophecy has a specific reason for God to instruct a prophet to record it, but it also overlaps and has what is called similitudes of prophecy. Just as this prophetic book was initially written about the nation Edom or the descendants of Esau back in Old Testament days, it continues on today and can be seen in history and in current events. God’s judgement upon Edom because of their actions and attitudes applies to other countries and governments, both historically, and now. Think about all the nations that have come and gone. God has judged nations and whatever evil they did to others, God allowed that evil to be done to them. Verse 15 above states that the day of the LORD is (present tense) near upon all the heathen. The “day of the LORD” indicates a visitation or intervention by God Almighty into the affairs of man. Since all the signs of the return of Jesus Christ to this Earth have been happening for decades so that nothing else has to happen, and since Jesus stated in Matthew 24:34, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”, could it be that modern day Israel’s attack on Gaza is the last event that will issue in the end of time and the return of our LORD and Savior?
Verses 17-18 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.
There are two mount Zions in Scripture. One is another name for the physical city of Jerusalem, and the other is the New Jerusalem in Heaven which is the city of God. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:1-2 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Revelation 3:12 Common sense dictates that physical Zion or Jerusalem has never been and never will be a place of holiness or deliverance. So the verses above are not referring to the natural, but to the Spiritual. So in relation to the “day of the LORD”, the deliverance and holiness can only occur through the LORD Jesus Christ who delivers men and women from the bondage of sin, death, and Hell and through which His shed blood makes converted men and women holy. They are set apart as servants of the Most High and as children of God, the spiritual Israel of God. Therefore, the spiritual house of Jacob shall possess the land which is the Kingdom of God and life eternal in Heaven. So spiritually, the Church will endure and the evil ones operating at the behest of Satan will be destroyed. Since “the LORD hath spoken it,” it will come to pass soon, very soon.
Application: Remember. Jesus Christ came to deliver sinners into holiness and righteousness. Jesus is the Christian believers’ possession. He belongs to the believers and the believers belong to Him. They are one. Amazing.
Verses 19-21 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. 21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. (Obadiah)
The remaining verses in this book appear to be laying out the strategy that will happen in order to accomplish God’s plan for Edom. These verses may also contain God’s plan for the return of the remnant Jews to Jerusalem during the days of Nehemiah and Ezra as verse 20 states that those of Israel who were carried away captive or exiled would possess the area of the Canaanites and Jerusalem and the cities of the south. However, ultimately the LORD is King of all and has an everlasting Kingdom. Amen (truly, so be it)