Asshur the Assyrian is a Biblical exposition of the man called Asshur the Assyrian. There are many books that explore the history of Assyria and the many kings that ruled there. This book explores the history of Assyria only briefly, but covers the future nation and the man who will lead her. The revived nation of Assyria will play more than a small part in the prophetic events coming in the near future. Assyria's leader will rule much more than just a small province in northern Iraq. He will ultimately rule the world.
ASSHUR the ASSYRIAN
By Allen BonckiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2009 Allen Bonck
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4401-6273-2Contents
INTRODUCTION: Asshur and Assyria..............................1CHAPTER ONE: Asshur the Assyrian..............................5CHAPTER TWO: Asshur and Persia................................29CHAPTER THREE: Asshur and the Little Horn.....................41CHAPTER FOUR: Asshur the Beast................................51CHAPTER FIVE: Asshur the Son of Perdition.....................67CHAPTER SIX: Asshur, One Man's Story..........................73MAPS..........................................................89GENERAL INDEX.................................................93INDEX OF NAMES................................................95INDEX OF PLACES...............................................99SCRIPTURE INDEX...............................................103
Chapter One
Asshur the Assyrian
In the introduction, you learned of the original man called Asshur and how from him came the nation and empire of Assyria. Also, I discussed how Assyria is currently in Diaspora but with hopes and aspirations to be a nation once again.
This chapter will cover a man called Asshur "The Assyrian," who will be a modern man and part of the Assyrian restoration. God, through the Hebrew prophets, has much to say about this man. We will study Micah 5: and five chapters from Isaiah. Each chapter we study will add some information and understanding about Asshur. I will show that these prophecies were written for the last days and are yet to be fulfilled. We will start with a study of Micah 5:
(1) Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he [the Assyrian] hath laid siege against us [Israel]; they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. (2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting. [The Messiah] (3) Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (4) And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. (5) And this man [the Messiah] shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land [Israel]: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds and eight principal men. (6) And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he [the Messiah] deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land [Israel], and when he treadeth within our borders.
Assyrians have come into Israel many times through out history, but this event will happen at the time that the Messiah, the man from Bethlehem, comes to rule in Israel. He will be there to set up his kingdom. Jews are awaiting the Messiah, and the Christians are looking for his return. In either case, it has not yet happened. Historically, Israel has never attacked the land of Assyria as described in verse 6. This means that this man called the Assyrian and the land (nation) of Assyria are still to come. At the time this prophecy is fulfilled, there will be a nation of Israel and also a nation of Assyria.
(7) And the remnant of Jacob [Israel] shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. (8) And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (9) Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries; and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
These scriptures speak to the Jewish Diaspora, which has put Jews among the gentiles since about AD 70. We saw the establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948 and the return of many Jews to their home. They have not yet seen all their enemies cut off, because the Messiah has not come for that purpose and the Assyrian is not yet king in Assyria. It says in verse 3 that he (the Messiah) will give them up until she comes forth from her travail. It's clear today that Israel is in travail from the nations all around her; she is under constant threat of attack and destruction. Even Europe has manifest anti-Semitism.
(10) And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: (11) And I will cut off the cities of thy land [Israel], and throw down all thy strong holds: (12) And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: (13) Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands. (14) And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so I will destroy thy cities. (15) And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
It's not always easy to see God's purpose in prophetic events. God clearly will deliver Israel from their enemies, and yet, at same time deal with Israel's sins. He will not allow Israel to enter into the millennium-his rest-carrying their sin. The works of their hands and their weapons of war will be taken away. Nothing will remain that can get between God and his people. This is also true of all the nations of the world not, just Israel. Assyria will be broken before becoming the "work of my hands" (Isaiah 19:25). Also God will deal with the gentile nations, as explained in verse 15 above.
The events detailed in this prophecy will take place in the time of God's wrath, a time when the world's sin and pride will exceed God's threshold of tolerance. And God will move to judge the nations in his wrath and anger. The Assyrian's military attack and occupation of Israel is also seen in Jesus's warnings about the "end."
Luke 21:20-22: And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (21) Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it [Judea/Israel] depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. (22) For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
In Matthew 24 the inhabitants of Judaea are told to flee to the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place.
Matthew 24:15 and 16: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (16) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
The Assyrian is the king who commands the armies which come into Israel at the time of the end and the days of vengeance and is dealt with by Christ (this man will be the peace when the Assyrian cometh into our land. Micah 5:5). The Assyrian is also the man who sets up the abomination of desolation in the holy place, the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. It will become clear further in this scripture study what the abomination actually is.
Descriptive Summary of Micah 5
1. The fulfillment of Micah's prophecy is set for the end times, a time when the Jewish messiah delivers Israel and the Jewish people from an attack from a man called Asshur the Assyrian when he treadeth within our borders. Verses 2-5
2. There will be an end-time restored nation of Israel and also a nation of Assyria. Verses 3 and 6
3. It will be a time when the Jewish people are both in the Land of Israel and in Diaspora among the gentiles. Verses 7 and 8
4. It is the time that the Lord deals (judges) with Israel's sin. He destroys the works of their hands. Verses 10-14
5. With the Messiah's help Israel attacks and wastes the land of Assyria. Verses 5 and 6
Isaiah 10 "The Rod of my Anger"
(1) Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; (2)To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
These verses explain why Israel will be judged and specifically what their sins are. The lawmakers, those who make decrees (laws) are not protecting the poor, widows, and fatherless. Their priorities are toward those who have clout, not the vulnerable of society. It's clear that while legislators have authority in this world and its governments to make laws and set values, they will be held accountable to God and his values in the end.
(3) And what will ye do in the day of visitation [accountability], and in the desolation which shall come from afar? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will you leave your glory? (4) Without me [the LORD] they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his [the LORD'S] anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
This will be the time of visitation and desolation. Israel's leaders will have no place to turn, and they will be prisoners and will be slain for their sin.
(5) O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger [the LORD'S], and the staff in their [the Assyrians] hand is mine [the LORD'S] indignation. (6) I [the LORD] will send him [the Assyrian] against an hypocritical nation [Israel], and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge [an order], to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
It is clear from these two verses that the Lord is behind Israel's judgment and that the Assyrians (the army) and the Assyrian (the man) are being used by God to be his rod. The discipline is from God, and the tool is Assyria.
(7) Howbeit he [the Assyrian] meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few (8) For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? (9) Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus? (10) As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; (11) Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? (12) Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I [the Lord] will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks, (13) for he saith. By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: (14) And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
Asshur has his own agenda beyond what the Lord wants done. His scope of control is "nations not a few." In fact he will control the entire world for a short time: "I have gathered all the earth." Asshur will become so powerful and subdue the nations so completely that no one will dare say anything against him: "there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped."
Asshur also makes a case to justify his pride and arrogance by showing how great his princes are and how easily he has destroyed nations and taken all their riches. He is able to destroy their governments and take away their control: "I have removed the bounds of the people." He then takes full credit for all the success Assyria has had: "My hand" "My wisdom" "I am prudent" "a valiant man." He has certainly done something that no one else has ever done. He has conquered the whole earth. No king or emperor in all of history has ever accomplished this feat.
It comes with one big problem: He has defied God, and he is boasting against the Lord. But the Lord is not afraid to peep. And when God decides to speak, the earth will shake. The Lord states that when he is through dealing with Israel (Zion) and when his complete work is done, he will punish Asshur.
(15) Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
Clearly, the Assyrian is the rod, which God uses to judge nations, nothing more! The Lord allows the Assyrian to succeed until the time comes to punish him. The Assyrian nation and their allies will not escape God's dealing.
(16) Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his [the Assyrian's] fat ones leanness; and under his glory he [the Lord] shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. (17) And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One [Messiah] for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; (18) And shall consume the glory of his forest, and his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when the standard bearer fainteth. (19) And the rest of the trees of the forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
God's judgment comes upon Asshur's "fat ones." It's obvious that Asshur is not the only one who is lifted up in pride. Asshur deliberately instilled a sense of uniqueness in his followers so they would feel special and thus not have pity or feel sorry for their victims. Asshur's Army(s) is referred to as thorns and briers and they are burned in battle with the Holy One of God (the light of Israel). This is reference to the Messiah who will come to deliver Israel-the same man as found in Micah 5:2.
The battle results in more than just the physical death of the soldiers on the field but also the judgment of the soul after death. "both soul and body" they shall be consumed by fire.
(20) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay on him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel in truth. (21) The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. (22) For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. (23) for the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of the land.
The reference in verse 20 to "such as are escaped" speaks to those in Judea (house of Jacob) who will flee to the mountains when they see Jerusalem encompassed about with armies (Luke 21:20-22). There will be a remnant of Jews escaping from the Assyrian and hiding in the wilderness till the consumption is past.
The term "stay" as used in verse 20 means to trust. Israel put their trust in the Assyrian. It's not clear in this chapter why they trusted him or what kind of agreement they had with him, only that they will never again trust in man for their security and peace but will trust in the Lord for their needs. This change in attitude is a part of the whole work that the Lord will do in Zion. It's tempting for us to question or judge Israel for leaning on the Assyrian. But we all tend to trust that which we can see and touch. The Assyrian is a flesh and blood man with whom they can negotiate and sign a paper. This is much easier than walking by faith in an invisible God.
There is in Isaiah 28 a prophecy to the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem set at the time of the end of the age-a time the Lord is a diadem to his people. This prophecy refers to a covenant that Israel has made with death and hell.
Isaiah 28: (15) Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death and with hell are we at agreement: when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge [stay], and under falsehood have we hid ourselves; (18) And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
The armies spoken of in Luke 21, which attack Judea and Jerusalem and which are lead by Asshur are this overflowing scourge. The covenant will be annulled and Israel will be trodden down till the Israeli's are delivered by the Holy One of Israel, the man from Bethlehem.
The consumption spoken of in verses 22 and 23 is the scourge that will pass through the land of Israel to judge it. Although God allows the consumption, it won't totally destroy Israel. It won't kill all his people; he saves a remnant.
The Lord wants his people to understand what is happening to them and to be encouraged to persevere through the time of his anger. He tells his people not to be afraid of the Assyrian and that the indignation will last only a very little while. We know that many will be killed during this time. The Lord must be encouraging his people, those who flee to the mountains, those who in obedience have responded to his exhortation to flee.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from ASSHUR the ASSYRIANby Allen Bonck Copyright © 2009 by Allen Bonck. Excerpted by permission.
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