In the First Redemption out of Egypt, there was a Shaliach (“apostle” or “sent one”) called Moses who went against Pharaoh. In the Second Redemption there will be a Shaliach named Yeshua who will go against the False Messiah. Each Egyptian Pharaoh will be a picture of the False Messiah. The Bible is full of information on Egypt and the Pharaohs. All of it is a picture of Europe and the False Messiah. We should look for references to the “Day of the Lord” because the Scriptures will be telling the same story over and over again. In Gen 1.2 we have where God created the great sea creatures, or in Heb the “Tannim Ha Gadol.” Now we are going to our second term that is synonymous with Leviathan, and that term is “Rahab.” This word means a prostitute, broad wall, pride and Egypt. We all know the story of Rahab in Jericho and whoever she was, prostitutes had their “work chambers” in the broad walls of a city. Rahab is Strong’s number 7293-4 and is defined in the Brown, Driver Briggs lexicon as literal storm, arrogance, but only as names (Isa 30.7; Job 9.13). A mythical sea monster (Job 9.13, 26.12; Psa 89.10; Isa 51.9. Emblematic name of Egypt (Isa 30.7).
Rahab in the Jewish Encyclopedia says, “Originally a mythical name designating the abyss or sea; subsequently applied to Egypt (Job 9.13, 26.12) indicate that it is an alternative for “Tiamat” the Babylonian name of the dragon of darkness and chaos.” Tiamat is a name for Leviathan. This article continues, “Psa 89.9-10 indicates that Rahab is a name applied to the sea monster, the dragon. According to a sentence preserved in the Talmud, Rahab is the name of the demon, ruler of the sea (Bava Batra 74b). It is used as a designation for Egypt in Psa 87.4 and Isa 30.7. Similarly, in Isa 51.9, which alludes to the Exodus from Egypt, the destruction of Pharaoh is described as a smiting of the great sea monster Rahab or the dragon Tannin. The juxtaposition of Rahab and Tannin in this passage explains why Rahab was used as a designation for Egypt, which was otherwise called Tannin (Ezek 29.3). It must be noted that the Jewish exegetes deprived the word Rahab of its mythological character, and explained it as merely an equivalent for arrogance, noise or tumult-applied both to the roaring of the sea and to the arrogant noisiness and proud boasting of the Egyptians (compare Abraham Ibn Ezra on Psa 87.4 and 89.9-10).”
So, remember we have seen that the false Messiah is a great orator. Like Hitler only on a larger scale. He will motivate the masses. But what we see is one who is very arrogant and proud. Hitler will look like an amateur compared to the False Messiah. So, let’s look at some Scriptures about Rahab.
Isa 30.7 says that Egypt is called Rahab and she has been exterminated. The first book written in the Tanak was Job. In Job 9.13 says that God will turn back his anger and beneath him crouch the helpers of Rahab. Rahab is found in the oldest of our writings of Scripture. Already we are talking about Rahab, the Tannin, Leviathan and the Nachash. It is from the beginning. Does the Book of Job teach eschatology? Yes, and it is so eschatological you wouldn’t believe it. It will tell you the story of the Messiah, the False Messiah, the False Prophet, the resurrection, the war with Gog and Magog/Assyria/Russia and Egypt and Europe. You can teach prophecy from every book of the Bible, it is everywhere.
Let’s go to Psa 89.10. The word “arm” there is a reference to the Messiah. In the Targum on Psa 89.10 it says, “You have crushed Rahab, that is wicked Pharaoh, like one slain by the sword; with the might of your strong arm you have scattered your enemies.” Pharaoh is being destroyed here. This Targum was current with the First Century and gives us an idea of how Jews, like Yochanon who wrote Revelation, interpreted this passage. In most movies about the Exodus, we see Pharaoh on the other side of the seashore watching his army being destroyed in the Yam Suf (Red Sea). But in Jewish understanding, especially in the Time of Yeshua, Pharaoh died. He was crushed in the sea with his army. Psa 136.15 says that he “overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea.” This is important because it tells us about what is going to happen to the False Messiah.
Now, let’s look at another term called the “Nachash” (serpent). Gen 3.1 talks about the Nachash and later on in the chapter we learn that the seed of the Nachash (False Messiah) will have enmity with the seed of the woman (Messiah). In Psa 27.1 it says “In that day” (the Day of the Lord) the lord will punish Leviathan, the fleeing serpent (Nachash), the twisted serpent. It says that he will slay the dragon (tannin) that is in the sea (Yam). Job 41.1-3 says that you can’t just go catch Leviathan with a hook or rope. You won’t be able to make a “covenant” with him either. Notice the allusions to the False Messiah and his oratorical skills, and he lives in the sea (Rev 13.1). Job 41.4-6 goes on to say “Will he make a covenant with you (Israel)?” Then it says “Will the companions make a banquet of him?” This alludes to the Feast of Leviathan, which we will get into later.
Just like during the time of Hezekiah, when they looked to Egypt for help against the Assyrians, Israel in the Birth-pains will look for help from Europe and the False Messiah against Gog and Magog/Russia. He has a covenant with them in Dan 9.27. Now, a very interesting thing happened when Tirhakah of Egypt (a Pharaoh and a picture of the False Messiah) came to help Israel. Josephus and Herodotus both recorded what happened.
In Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 1.2 it talks about the military treaty with Tirhakah. “Now as soon as they were come before the walls, they pitched their camp, and sent messengers to Hezekiah, and desired that they might speak with him; but he did not himself come out to them for fear, but he sent three of his most intimate friends; the name of the one was Eliakim, who was over the kingdom, and Shebna, and Joab the Recorder. So, these men came out and stood over against the commanders of the Assyrian army; and when Rabshakeh saw them, he bade them to go and speak to Hezekiah in the manner following: that Sennacherib, the great king, desires to know of him, on whom it is that he relies and depends, in flying from his Lord, and he will not hear him, nor admit his army into the city? Is it on the account of the Egyptians, and in hopes that his army would be beaten by them?” Rabshakeh goes on to say that if they are relying on Pharaoh they are relying on a broken reed, which if you lean on it it will make you fall. He also told him that the Assyrians were there because God had sent them.
In Book 10, Chapter 1.4-5 it goes on to describe what happened to Sennacherib and the Assyrians, “but after a little while, the king of Assyria, when he had failed of his treacherous designs against the Egyptians, returned home without success on the following occasion. He spent a long time in the siege of Pelusium (Lachish); and when the banks that he raised over against the walls were of great height, and when he was ready to make immediate assault upon them, he heard of Tirhakah, king of the Ethiopians (Egyptians), was coming, and bringing great forces to aid the Egyptians, and was resolved to march through the desert, and so to fall directly on the Assyrians, this king Sennacherib was disturbed at the news; and, as I said before, left Pelusium (Lachish), and returned back without success.”
In Part 9 we will continue in bringing you the account of Josephus and how he describes what happened to Sennacherib and the Assyrians. What happens is amazing, and it will also tell us something about the False Messiah and the Russian invasion during the Birth-pains.
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