Matt. 24:21: For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now — and never to be equaled again.
In Part 17a, published in the March 18 Quill, we noted that Ethiopia was the initial recipient of the message when the prophecy began in Isaiah 18:1-2, but unexpectedly the focus abruptly shifted away from Ethiopia to the entire world in verse 3.
God's message to the world
"All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign (a flag or banner) is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye. For thus hath Jehovah said unto me, 'I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.' For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becometh a ripening grape, he (the flag bearer/the trumpet blower) will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and the spreading branches will he take away and cut down. They shall be left together unto the ravenous birds of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth; and the ravenous birds shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them" (Isa. 18:3-6).
The inhabitants of the world are warned that a fluttering flag will unfurl on the highest mountain (signaling Christ's Second Coming — Isa. 5:25-30, Isa. 13:2-16, Isa. 11:12), and that a trumpet will blow (the last trumpet of Christ's wrath — 1 Cor. 15:52, Rev. 11:15-19).
Meanwhile, God the Father will wait quietly in his hiding place like a cloud of mist that vanishes in hot, shimmering air above a dry summer field — a perfect picture of Ethiopia as Jesus begins to judge the world at final harvest. Although the Almighty shrouds himself in secrecy where he resides, his presence still expresses absolute glory. Consider the following example: Rumored among the Abyssinian Christians, the guardians of the Ark go blind before their lifelong service ends. When asked why, the elders of the Ethiopian church explain, "Because of the extreme radiance ... God's Ark is a thing of fire!" (Heb. 12:29).
In the prophecy (Isa. 18:5-6), we learn that a time of severe hardship will cause widespread anguish on earth as "the harvest is obliterated and ferocious beasts trample what remains." Obviously, this is a very graphic analogy portraying the great tribulation that Jesus also described: "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now — and never to be equaled again" (Matt. 24:21).
Finally, the prophet repeats his earlier portrayal of the Ethiopian people who must perform a vital task when Christ returns.
God's final order to Ethiopia
"In that time shall a present be brought unto Jehovah of hosts from a people tall and smooth, even from a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide (Ethiopia), to the place of the name of Jehovah of hosts, the Mount Zion (Jerusalem)" (Isa. 18:7).
Restating parts of verses 1 and 2 about the mighty Nubian warriors and the convergence of the three Niles, the prophecy commands Ethiopia to bring a "present" to Jehovah on Mount Zion.
By now, you should have a good idea what gift Ethiopia will bring to Jesus at Jerusalem on Mount Zion (i.e., the Ark of God's Covenant/Christ's earthly throne)!
Today, whether the Ark is hidden somewhere beneath Ethiopia's Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, or inside one of the 11 carved, solid-rock Lalibela churches, or deep within countless, secret cave churches high in the surrounding mountains ... a wonderful present is waiting to be taken to Jerusalem when Jesus comes again. I can imagine those beautiful Ethiopian priests, dressed in snowy white garments, starting the long journey to Israel with Christ's glorious Mercy Seat balanced high on their strong shoulders. What a radiant sight that will be when the Ark of the Covenant finally returns home! Hallelujah!
But today, why should you or I even care? Well, think about this verse for a moment: "To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne" (Rev. 3:21).
Thus, from the ancient days of faithful Moses, Christ's magnificent throne awaits: "Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).
Epilogue
All of the previous articles about the Ark of God's Covenant have gradually led to Lesson 17. For the faithful individuals who have followed this series about God's Ark ... you are finally rewarded in Part 17b to discover that everything, from beginning to end, was/is about Jesus Christ alone! He is exclusively the reason for every heavenly purpose, ordained by God Almighty through his beloved only-begotten Son ... Amen!
