Gilbert House Fellowship #497: Isaiah 17

AN ALLIANCE between the northern kingdom of Israel and the Aramaean kingdom of Damascus forms the backdrop of this prophecy of the city’s ultimate destruction.

In a callback to chapter 7 of Isaiah, this is an “already but not yet” prophecy of the destruction of Damascus. It was captured by the Assyrians in 732 BC, but it has continued as an occupied city (possibly the oldest continuously occupied city on earth, dated back to 9000 BC). The “not yet” is still to come.

Verses 12 through 14 of Isaiah 17 describe a coalition of “many peoples” that come against Israel only to bechased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.” We see this as a prophecy of the war that leads to Armageddon (cf. Ezekiel 38–39 and Revelation 19). It would appear that the ultimate destruction of Damascus takes place in the end times.

This week’s question: Who are the Amalekites today?

We’re asking for your help to Build Bunker Better! We’ve decided to remain in our home, but we need certain upgrades to make it safe for Derek given his mobility limitations compounded by COPD. Find out more at Gilberthouse.org/donate.

Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, has been battling stage 4 bowel cancer and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah.

Derek’s new book War of the Watchers Book One: From Baal to Balfour is now available at Amazon in paperback (https://www.amazon.com/War-Watchers-Book-Baal-Balfour/dp/1948014998?&linkCode=ll2&tag=peeringintoda-20&linkId=a330264a003c55880365ee0b24b7e14c&language=en_US&gaOptInStatus=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) and as a Kindle e-book! (https://www.amazon.com/War-Watchers-Book-Baal-Balfour-ebook/dp/B0HBN3VG71?&linkCode=ll2&tag=peeringintoda-20&linkId=e105942b522e45b8ac3082da9d99efdd&language=en_US&gaOptInStatus=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) It’s also a part of a special offer at the SkyWatchTV store: Get War of the Watchers, Derek’s previous book The Second Coming of Saturn, and a 13-part teaching DVD based on The Second Coming of Saturn for your donation of just $45! (https://www.skywatchtvstore.com/products/derek-gilbert-war-of-the-watchers-special-offer?variant=43251471122545)

Here’s the link to the trailer for the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI-BfCJSGF0

If you are looking for a text of the Book of 1 Enoch to follow our monthly study, you can try these sources:

• Parallel translations by R. H. Charles (1917) and Richard Laurence (1821) (www.qbible.com/enoc