Israel is like a lone pole planted on a high hill.

Isaiah 30:15-17

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you will be saved; In quietness and confidence will be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

The Israelites chose to trust in the power of foreign militaries, instead of trusting the Lord. They turned away from the Ten Commandments and the animal sacrifices to atone for sin. They refused to rest in His word, were raucous and noisy in their aggressive military ambitions. The Lord wanted the Israelites to not trust in the noise of armies, but to find their strength in a quiet confidence of peace that is found in Him.

Today, the State of Israel is not listening to the Holy One of Israel as they have rejected Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. They welcome the military and political power of the United States of America, and are making a lot of noise in the Middle East with their many wars…19 wars since the day the land of Israel was declared to be the State of Israel in 1948. Click for a list of those 19 wars. The Lord expects Israel to quiet the noise, to place their confidence in His Spirit and not in power and might. The Lord expects the Jewish people to return to Him, through Jesus Christ, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Although the majority of the Jewish population rejects Him, as many as do believe in Him will be saved, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…” John 1:11-12

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!…Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Psalms 46:10, Matthew 11:28-30

Today, we know the Holy One of Israel is Christ Jesus. “Returning” means to be reconciled to God, to give ourselves to Him as the temple of His Spirit, the temple of the Holy Spirit, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19 We return to God through Jesus Christ and by Him we are saved…saved from sin and death, as Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…” John 10:9 In quietness and confidence is our strength as we live in the meekness, gentleness, and peace of the Holy Spirit.

“He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.” Matthew 12:19 That verse describes the quiet confidence found in our Lord Jesus. He is our example not to quarrel, nor lash out, nor to lift up our voice in the streets.

“But you would not, and you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”—Therefore you will flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”—Therefore those who pursue you will be swift!” Isaiah 30:16

The Israelites refused to live by the word of God, and instead chose earthly and physical aggression. They said “No!” to showing their strength in quiet confidence. They decided to flee from God by riding on horses of war, and indeed they were made to flee by opposing armies. The Israelites trusted in swift horses for their liberation, but the armies that pursued them were swifter.

Today, we see how those of the State of Israel has said “No!” to the peace that comes through Jesus Christ…they have said “No!” to showing strength through a quiet confidence. They have fled from God as they embrace military empowerment, they operate as if they can outperform their enemies, but their enemies are able to perform effectively as well. We already see how Jerusalem is divided between West Jerusalem in Israel, and East Jerusalem in the West Bank. We also know how a huge part of Israel is now considered the West Bank, as seen on the map below,

“One thousand will flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you will flee, till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill.” Isaiah 30:17

A pole on top of a mountain, and a banner on a hill, is alone and very isolated from the rest of the world, but seen from far away, as seen on the image below. That is pretty much how Israel is today. They are shunned by the countries around them, they are shunned within the assembly of the United Nations, and they are shunned by the global culture in cities around the world. Israel is standing alone in the world for all the world to see…and news media makes sure the world sees it. Even if the military power of Israel “outnumbered” their enemies, that doesn’t remove them from being isolated by the world.

The word of the Lord speaks the following to Israel, and to all of us, “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you…Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.” Deuteronomy 7:7-10

Jesus says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 14:23-24

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1