TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Lesson 5: A review of how the fulfillment of the prophesied
destruction of Egypt's environment and economy will
persuade the Egyptians to embrace Christianity.
I Isa. 19:11-14 identifies poor planning as the root cause of
the ecological collapse of the Nile Valley.
11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wise
counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say
to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient
kings?" (Isa. 19:11, RSV).
12 Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them
tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts
hath purposed upon Egypt (Isa. 19:12).
13 The princes of Zoan have acted foolishly, The princes of
Memphis are deluded; Those who are the cornerstone of her
tribes Have led Egypt astray (Isa. 19:13, NASB).
A According to the text all of Egypt's "princes" and "wise
counselors" would promote the "foolish" decision to build
the High Dam.
B The reference to the ancient capitals--Zoan, which was
located on the Delta's southeast coast, and Memphis
which was near today's Cairo,--predicts general support
from the political leaders of Egypt's two principal
geographical areas, to build the dam.
14 The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of distortion;
They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, as a
drunken man staggers in his vomit (Isa. 19:14, NASB).
A Isaiah listed the source of their "stupid counsel" as a
"spirit of distortion."
B The late President Nasser's enthusiasm for the project led
his advisers to "distort" the potential benefits of the dam.
C A look at some of the original benefits expected from
the dam compared against its unprofitable side effects,
demonstrates how far "the cornerstones of her tribes
have led Egypt astray in all that it does."
1 Marginal crop performance on poor quality reclaimed
land coupled with extremely high reclamation costs
led to the scaling back of reclamation projects by
the mid-1970s.
2 By 1982 over a million feddans had been added to Egypt's
agricultural area by desert reclamation schemes, but
only half the land was under cultivation because of
water rationing.
3 The 103-mile El Salam, or Peace, Canal will soon channel
Nile water under the Suez Canal and along the
Mediterranean coast to the North Sinai Project near El
Arish.
a This could add 400,000 acres to cultivation.
b But ten acres of irrigated desert will grow only as
much as one acre of river bottomland.
4 Conversion of 2.5 million acres from seasonal flood
to year-round canal irrigation was expected to double
crop production by permitting double-cropping.
5 Instead, poor drainage and increased soil salinity
often reduced production by 50 percent to pre-dam single
planting levels, but doubled planting, harvest, and
labor costs.
6 By 1970, Egypt was paying $100,000,000 yearly for
artificial fertilizers to replace the silt, which
nature in the past provided free.
7 By the mid-seventies only 7 or 8 of Aswan's 12
turbines were being used due to the Ministry of
Irrigation's water conservation efforts. Clearly,
power that is not produced is not cheap.
8 One report calculated that the interest on the High Dam's
construction cost could have doubled the wages of every
Egyptian.
D How does this passage prove that the blocking of the
Nile by the High Dam will be a major factor in the
ecological collapse of Egypt?
- If the foretold shifting winds were the only cause of
the ecological destruction of Egypt, then the foolish
decision to build the dam would not be mentioned here.
II Isa. 19:15 warns that the destruction of the Nile Valley
will eventually bring the nation's economy to a halt.
15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head
or tail, branch or rush, may do (Isa. 19:15).
A "Head or tail, branch or rush" is a proverbial expression
that compares the lofty palm branch at the top of the palm
tree with the lowly reeds in the marshes.
B The message is the "heads" of companies will become
unemployed along with the workers at the "tail" end of the
economic ladder.
C Egypt went from a food exporter in 1976 to importing
half of its food at a cost of 10 million a day by 1986.
D Egypt was declared technically bankrupt in 1977.
E The future complete collapse of Egypt's agricultural base
will help stop the entire economy.
F Note also that the more than 3 million tourists (1991) who
visit Egypt's 10,000 antiquities sites each year, will not be
inclined to visit temple sites ruined by rogue rains,
increased humidity, and higher ground-water levels.
III Isa. 19:16-17 notes that Egypt's accelerating agricultural
misfortunes will fill the people with fear.
16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall
be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of
the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.
17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt,
every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in
himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which
he hath determined against it (Isa. 19:16-17).
A What does the expression "in that day" mean here?
- During the days when Egypt's accelerating agricultural
misfortunes are destroying the nation's economy, the
next (5) events will come to pass in rapid succession.
B How do we know from this text that the Egyptians will
hear about Isaiah's prophecies foretelling Egypt's
twentieth century misfortunes?
1 The use of the unique reference to the Egyptians'
"fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD
of hosts . . . over it," indicates that the people will
know that the damaging winds were predicted by God in the
Isa. 11:15 prophecy.
2 Their "fear" of the "land of Judah," where Isaiah lived
when he wrote these prophecies down, confirms this
position since it shows the Egyptians will know that
the prophecies originated in the land of Judah.
IV Isa. 19:18-22 explains how Egypt's environmental collapse
will persuade the Egyptians to turn to Christianity.
18 In that day there will be five cities in the land of
Egypt which speak the language of Canaan and swear
allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be
called the City of the Sun (Isa. 19:18, RSV).
A How do we know that speaking "the language of Canaan" is
not literal, but an expression used to describe the
conversion of the Egyptians to the true God of Israel?
1 This is evident from the statement that they will not
only "speak the language of Canaan," but will also
"swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts."
2 From the Egyptians perspective, Moses led the Hebrews
out of Egypt to Canaan in 1491 B.C. to worship, or
"speak," to their God who dwelt in the land of Canaan.
B Today the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis--a Greek name which
means City of the Sun--still bears the name of the city
referred to here.
C The next two verses answer the question, "How will the
Egyptians come to know the Lord?"
19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the
midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near
its border (Isa. 19:19, NASB).
20 It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in
the land of Egypt; when they cry to the LORD because of
oppressors he will send them a saviour, and will defend and
deliver them (Isa. 19:20, RSV).
A The word altar as used here designates a place of worship.
B It means the worship of the true God will be established
"in the midst of Egypt."
C How do we know that Trans World Radio properly fulfills
the description of the "pillar to the LORD near [Egypt's]
border?"
1 Trans World Radio built the radio tower spoken of here
some years ago, on Cyprus, which borders Egypt.
2 It has been "a witness to the LORD" by broadcasting
the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to the
Egyptians.
3 And its presence is "a sign" of the fulfillment of
Isaiah's prophecy and the nearness of Christ's Return.
21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians
shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and
oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and
perform it.
22 And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal
it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be
intreated of them, and shall heal them (Isa. 19:21-22).
A How do we know from this passage that the Egyptians will
depart from the Islamic religion and accept Christ as
their Savior?
1 Forty-five million out of fifty-one million Egyptians
were Muslims in 1990.
a Therefore, since the prophecy states that the Egyptians
will convert to the worship of the true God, then they
will have to depart from the Islamic religion.
b Note further that the Islamic religion bases its plan
of salvation on good works, not in a Savior God.
c (Muslims believe a man must die for himself.)
2 The statements "the Lord will send them a saviour" and
the Egyptians "shall return even to the LORD," therefore,
speaks of Christianity, the only religion that bases
redemption of a man's soul on "a savior," Jesus Christ,
the Son of God.
B What will convince the Egyptians that Jesus Christ is
the Savior of the world?
- They will be convinced by the visible evidence of
Isaiah's prophecies foretelling the destruction of Egypt,
coming to pass in their land.
C This passage ends with the promise that the land of
Egypt will be restored to its former health.
V Isa. 19:23-25 explains how the conversion of the Egyptians
to Christianity will be followed by a lasting peace which
will feature the Assyrians and Israelis worshiping Christ
together with the Egyptians as friends.
23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to
Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the
Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with
the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt
and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,
25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is
Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and
Israel My inheritance" (Isa. 19:23-25, NASB).
A Today, the modern Arab states of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,
and Jordan occupy the lands once ruled by Assyria.
B The three historically contending groups of people will
freely travel back and forth on a highway connecting
their territories.
C Shimon Peres, in his book The New Middle East, envisages the
construction of trans-national highways with Israel's
neighbors.
D Note the order of these nations conversion to
Christianity-- Egypt, Assyria, and last Israel.
VI In summary, Isaiah's prophecy defines the negative
consequences resulting from the construction of a mighty
dam across the Nile--e.g., the systematic destruction of
Egypt's entire agricultural and economic system--as prelude
events to a lasting peace in the Middle East.
VII Note also how the powerful fulfillment of the Isaiah 11 and
19 prophecies will persuade the Egyptians, Assyrians, and
Israelis to turn to Christ and dwell together in peace.