We are going to develop out the concept that Egypt is a type of Europe in prophecy. We have already discussed the fact that Assyria is a type of Russia in prophecy, and Pharaoh a type of the false messiah. Assyria is invading Israel, and King Hezekiah of Judah had a military alliance with Egypt (Isa 36.1-10), just like Israel will with Europe and the false messiah (Dan 9.27). He expected Egypt to help against the Assyrians. But the Lord was not going to let Pharaoh Tirhakah help because God was going to destroy Assyria himself (Isa 37.8-35). Josephus quotes the historian Herodotus in the story of how the Lord prevented Tirhakah from helping. Sennacherib goes out to meet Tirhakah in battle. Rats began to eat the bow strings, arrow feathers and slings of the Assyrians and Sennacherib decides not to fight with Tirhakah. Soon after the Lord destroyed the Assyrians in one night. In the birth-pains, Israel will be in a treaty with Europe and the false messiah. God is not going to allow Europe to help Israel when Russia invades. He is going to destroy Russia and her allies (Psa 83; Oba 6-7) so that Israel can’t say it was done with the help of another, in particular Europe and the false messiah.
Micah 5.5 talks about the seven shepherds and eight princely men we have already discussed. We know three shepherds leave this alliance (Rev 12.3; Dan 7.8, 20, 24; Zech 11.4-8). Rev 17.12-13 we see the ten horns and these are people who have not received power as yet (a kingdom) but will, with the false messiah (Rev 13.1). Rev 17.8-11 talks about an eighth ruler over an eighth kingdom. The seven shepherds and eight princely men refers to the seven horns or crowns after three have left. With the little horn of the false messiah, we have an eighth horn ruler, or prince.
We have already dealt with Num 24.23-24 where we have discussed that Asshur is Russia and showed that Kittim is Rome, or Europe. Eber (“Ivrit”= “Hebrew”) is Israel Now, in history, Napoleon tried to put together a “revived Roman Empire” but was defeated by the Russian winter. Hitler tried to do the same thing, and he was also defeated by the Russian winter. When Russia invades Israel, Israel will call on Europe for help and they won’t help. God will not allow it because he is going to do it himself, but Europe will capitalize on the defeat of the Russians, catapulting him to the world stage. It will also be a good time to strike Russia. Micah 5.6 says that the seven shepherds and eight princely men (the false messiah and seven remaining rulers) will “shepherd” the land of Russia with the sword (Ezek 39.6; Num 24.23-24).
As a result, the false messiah and Europe become one of the most powerful kingdoms and armies in the world. Anciently, when Assyria invaded, the prophets told the people not to leave the land and go to Egypt, but many did. The Egyptians turned against them. It will be the same with this invasion. Many in Israel have roots in Europe. When this invasion happens and the people see it coming, many will go back to Europe to escape but will fall into the hands of the false messiah and the Europeans will turn against them. He will begin to persecute them.
In Isa 30.1-8 it says that Egypt and their help is vain. It then uses the name “Rahab” for Egypt and this is an ancient name for Egypt. Now, Rahab means “prostitute, broad wall and pride” (Isa 89.10; Job 26.12-13; Job 9.13; Isa 51.9; Job 41.33).
Now, what we are doing is using this one topic as an example on how to study. You have to ask yourself the right questions and know how to work through a passage. This passage in Micah has a lot of information in it about eschatology that must be defined, so that is why it is a good one. Micah 5.1-9 deals with three time periods. It has a historical meaning in Micah’s time, and we should not overlook that. Sometimes people only show how a prophecy relates to the Messiah. There is a concept called “pearl-stringing” and that is taking a passage, and another, and another and another and then putting them all together to form a message.
For example, Paul does this in Rom 3.9-18 by putting together Psa 14.1-3; Psa 53.1-3; Ecc 7.20; Psa 5.9, 140.3, 10.7; Isa 59.7-8 and Psa 136.1. He “strings” together these verses to give a message. The second period the passage in Micah refers to is the Messianic times. These point to Yeshua directly. The third one is eschatological and it mixes all of these together. Another thing you will need to do is find definitions to get a biblical understanding. We would recommend the following: A concordance; a good lexicon; the Jewish Encyclopedia; Encyclopedia Judaica; the works of Josephus; the Mishnah; the Talmud; Jewish commentaries; Jewish prayer books with commentary; the Targums (Aramaic paraphrase of the Tanach); the Pseudo-pigrapha; certain books and certain authors that deal with Hebraic thought (like Alfred Edersheim, Joseph Good, Abraham Bloch, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, David Forhman, etc); the Temple Institute and Hatikva Ministries to name a few. But in all things, check things out by the Word of God.
In our conclusion, we are going to pick up here and start discussing the 144,000 and they relate to our topic of biblical eschatology.
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