Photo credit: Pool of Siloam by Seetheholyland.net
Jerusalem’s Three Flood Stages
Tranquil, overflowing, and poured out
(Isa 8:5-8)
By Craig C. White
We all know that Noah had a great flood. Lucky for him he had recently joined the navy. Noah’s flood was worldwide. Today we will look at a local flood. There are three flood stages that occur in Israel; Tranquil, overflowing, and poured out.
The first flood stage is measured at the brim of the spring of Shiloah (also Siloah or Siloam) in Jerusalem. Its gentle waters flow from the valley east of the temple mount through Hezekiah’s tunnel, trickling toward the pool of Siloam in the city of David. Its flowing is so delicate that today tourists are permitted to wade through its entire length. Its waters are cool, clean, and comforting. God provided this pleasant water source for the refreshing of Jerusalem. The spring of Shiloah represents the nation of Israel when it is at peace with God; secure and calm. This is the flood stage that I would desire the most. Who wouldn’t? Well, I’ll tell you who.
King Solomon had a son named Rehoboam. Because of Solomon’s sins, God took part of the kingdom of Israel away from Rehoboam (1Ki 11:11-12). God gave the northern portion of Israel to a man named Jeroboam. Jeroboam feared he would lose the kingdom. In order to keep the people away from the temple in Jerusalem (and also away from God) Jeroboam built his own temple in Samaria (north of Jerusalem). Jeroboam also made golden calves for the people to worship (1Ki 12:26-29). Jeroboam made-up his own religious practices. He rejected God’s consecrated temple in Jerusalem, along with the gentle spring nearby. Because of this idolatry, God sent Assyria to capture the northern kingdom of Israel.
Isa 8:5-8 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying, 6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: 8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
As you can see, our second flood stage is a flood of soldiers. Pekah (the son of Remaliah) was king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Pekah joined forces with Rezin the king of Syria to fight the southern kingdom of Judah. Before they could fight, the Assyrians overwhelmed the entire land of Israel. The Assyrian armies overflowed the banks of the Tigris River, and then overflowed the land of Israel. They took the northern kingdom of Israel captive.
Israel will again suffer a stage two flood during the Great Tribulation. The Euphrates River will dry up to allow the armies that are east of the river to overflow into Israel.
Revelation 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Many prophecy students jump to the conclusion that the kings of the east include China and the Far East. I don’t think so. I would instead concentrate on the countries nearer to the east bank of the Euphrates River, especially Iraq and Iran. I would also include four other countries, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. These four counties may soon become confederate (read my commentary titled ‘The Leopard is Upon Us!”).
God used Assyria to judge Israel. As you know Israel still exists. When God uses a nation to judge another nation there is a chance of recovery. When God judges you himself you are lost without remedy (Revelation 14:9-11). Jesus Christ will personally judge Israel’s enemies. The land of Israel will soon be brimming with the LORD’s enemies.
Joe 3:11-14 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
The verses above describe the gathering of the heathen armies into the valley of Megiddo (Armageddon). Israel’s enemies will also be gathered in Judea and Jerusalem (Zec 14:2), and along the Mediterranean coast (Zep 2:4). After the second flood stage of Israel’s enemies, Jesus will cause the third flood stage in the land of Israel. Christ will pour out his fury on the enemies of Israel.
Nah 1:6-9 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. 9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
This describes the “day of the LORD”. It is a day of darkness and complete abolition for the enemies of Israel. When God the son judges you himself you are lost without remedy.
High Time to Awake 