And HE shall set up an ensign [banner] for the nations and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12 KJV)
The Hebrew word for ensign is the word nes which is also translated as banner, chest, sign, and or signal, and standard. Nes is more often used as a military signal. Isaiah 11:10 gives us a clue to verse 12.
And in that day there shall be a ROOT of JESSE, which shall stand for an ensign [nes] of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and HIS rest shall be glorious. (Isaiah11:10 KJV)
The ensign (nes)is most often referring to a sign or signal on a mountain top. “All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when HE lifteth up an ensign [nes] on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.” (Isaiah 18:3 KJV)
Isaiah also placed this ensign (nes/signal) as being the “HOUSE of the LORD.” “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord‘s HOUSE shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; AND ALL NATIONS SHALL FLOW INTO IT.” (Isaiah 2:2 KJV)
The Book of Isaiah is often referred to as being “a little Bible within the Bible.” Matthew’s Gospel was written mainly to the Jewish people, who were looking for a MESSIAH to come from the lineage of King David. The Jewish people revered Isaiah as being one of, if not, the top, Prophet of all time. So, Matthew referred to Isaiah about 60 times to show them this man they called JESUS was actually the MESSIAH they were looking for. I often think of the song, That’s The Man I’m Looking For, by Roy Acuff which says: “If you can remember ask HIM what’s HIS name: If HE tells you JESUS just say we’re so glad YOU came; Tell HIM you know someone who still calls HIM LORD; Then send HIM on to me for THAT’S THE MAN I’M LOOKING FOR.”
Isaiah chapter 11 and verse 11 tells us from where GOD shall gather the dispersed of Israel. Assyria does not exist by that name today, but in ancient times it covered what is modern day parts of Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. Pathos was also written as Paphos, which was, in ancient times, the capital city of Cypress. Cush was and is Ethiopia and sometimes was called Abyssinia. Shinar is today known as Iraq and parts of Iran and Kuwait. Hamath is today in Syria. Elam today is in the Southern part of Iran and has been called Awan, Anshan, Simash, and Susa. The Elamites existed before the Babylonians. Today some call it Kazakhstan, this area produces about 15% of the world’s uranium and is the sight of some major enrichment facilities owned in part by Russia and also China. Now notice a major prophecy given concerning this area: “And I will set MY THRONE in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king [ruler] and the princes [government leaders], saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 49:38 KJV)
“And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it JEHOVAHNISSI:” [Hebrew: YAHWEH-NISSI] (Exodus 17:15 KJV)This is the only place in the entire Bible that we find this name applied to GOD. The name means “The LORD is our BANNER [nes/ensign].”
The Children of Israel had not been long having come out of Egypt and through the Red Sea and now they are attacked by the Amalekites. It must be noted that the Amalekites did not attack them front to front but attacked as cowards from their back against the weaker people such as women, small children, and the elderly. Just as some of their descendants on October 7, 2023, did recently. Notice what GOD promises against the Amalekites: “For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (Exodus 17:16 KJV) That ancient battle with Amalek was one of the most unusual battles in history. Moses went up to the top of a hill where he could view the battle below. Moses held up his hand with the “ROD of GOD” the same one with which he opened the Red Sea and got water out of a ROCK. “For WHO is GOD save [except] the Lord? or who is a ROCK save [except] our GOD?” (Psalm 18:31 KJV)
Moses was in effect lifting up a BANNER (nes/ensign) when he held up his ROD. “And thou [Moses] shalt take this ROD [nes/ensign/banner] in thine hand, WHEREWITH THOU SHALT DO SIGNS. [nes/BANNERS]” (Exodus 4:17 KJV) Israel would be prevailing [winning] as long as Moses held up his hands. “Let us lift up our heart WITH OUR HANDS unto GOD in the heavens.” (Lamentations 3:41 KJV) When Moses’ hands got tired and he lowered the ROD (nes/BANNER) then Amalek would begin to win. Aaron and a man named Hur saw what was happening and they went up on the hill and stood beside Moses and held up his hands. This is a very good story about Aaron and Hur working together, but there is a very bad story of their first work together. Moses had left both in charge when he first went up on Sinai and that ended badly with them allowing the “Golden Calf” to be built. One other note is Hur was the grandfather of Bezalel, the man Moses appointed to build all the instruments and furniture for the Tabernacle. Moses lifting up his hands was equivalent to making an “intercessory prayer.” Hur’s name also means “heat like a furnace and white hot”. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual [productive] fervent [hot, burning or glowing] prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16 KJV)
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you [the people of Israel] from the people [Hebrew word “amim” meaning peoples and nations], and assemble you out of the countries [aratzot] where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 11:17 KJV)
Note: The “im” on the end of “amim” makes it plural, so thus we have “peoples and nations.”
There are three promises to the people of Israel in this verse:
- GOD will gather them from among the peoples
- GOD will assemble them from out of the countries
- GOD will give them the land of Isreal
Promise number one and number two are not the same, though it appears to be a mere repetition. In number one GOD gathers them and in number two HE assembles them. Once that is accomplished, HE restores them to their land. This is often referred to as “the Restoration of Israel/Jews.” The regathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland will be completed once the Jews from every nation once again identify themselves as Jews, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Those that are calling themselves Muslims/Palestinians and claim to be descended from Abraham, but they cannot prove descent from Isaac and Jacob. Some are descended from Esau and others are descended from Ishmael and others from Lot’s illegitimate sons of incest with his daughters mainly Moab and Edom and Ammon. Now this might surprise most people, but Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were neither one of them a Jew. Jews came from Jacob’s son Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, along with most of the tribe of Levi and a scattering of a few from the other tribes which formed the Kingdom of Judah, also known as the Southern Kingdom. These all came to be called Jews. John 4:22 tells us that “Salvation is of the Jews.” JESUS was from the tribe of Judah; therefore HE was Jewish. Now hear what the Bible says:
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other NAME [THE NAME OF JESUS ALONE] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)
The Ten Northern Tribes, also often called Ephraim, were conquered by Assyria in 722-721 B C and have been scattered ever since. The Southern Tribes were conquered by Rome in 70-71 AD or also known as C.E. The Jewish people have been separated from their land for about plus or minus 2000 years. That is not what the real problem is, but the major problem is they have, over the centuries enjoyed quite a bit of autonomy. Most of them have assimilated into the cultures and societies where they live. Even those who try to retain their Jewish heritage often call themselves such things as a “Jewish American” or some other nationality. Some have gone so far as to refuse to be identified as Jewish because of persecution. They do not want to go to a land where they have never been before, because ever since 1948 the Jews have been at war with all their kinsmen (Amalek) even this present war. The end of the “exile” will be when the Jews are back in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and they are willing to once again be called “The People of GOD [YHWH].” What is true of many Jews today is the old saying, “It is easier to take a Jew out of exile than it is to take the exile out of a Jew.” If anyone is wondering why so much “antisemitism” is spreading and getting more violent, it is because so many of them are “self-satisfied” where they are right now, but GOD is having to make it so hard to stay there that many are beginning to move to their land. The major cause of Israel’s slavery to Egypt was a result of Joseph’s brothers selling him as a slave. (Genesis 37:25-27 KJV)The slavery of all the tribes mirrored the slavery of Joseph, which was a bit of poetic justice. Joseph’s brothers got 20 pieces of silver which they divided among themselves and spent on some new shoes. And Judas got thirty pieces of silver for JESUS.
Some Bible Scholars have very often suggested that the thirty pieces of silver (shekels) Judas got was the tithe on the “Expensive Ointment” Mary used to anoint JESUS. (John 12:3-6 KJV) According to the “Law of Moses” thirty shekels of silver was the prices of a slave. (Exodus 21:32 KJV) Judas considered JESUS was not worth much. In Genesis chapter 37 we find Joseph’s brothers considered him worthless too. Okay, Joseph’s brothers got 20 shekels for him, while Judas got 30 shekels for JESUS. Many have said that in JESUS’ day that was the price of a slave, because the “Law of Moses” was still in affect. The answer lies in the culture of those ancient days. The Sumerians culture was flourishing from about 4000 to 2000 B C. Many of their “laws” are used today for the laws of many different nations, known as “Hammurabi’s Code.” Hammurabi engraved them on a “basalt stone” called the “Rosetta Stone.” Today we still have a “language learning method” known as “The Rosetta Stone.” The Sumerians used “base 60” for their counting system, while we use a “base 10.” Parts of their “base 60” are still reflected in our society. They used a “base 60” for measuring time. We still use a 24 hour day with 60 minutes in an hour and 60 seconds in a minute and 360 degrees in a circle. To value things 60 was the norm but 30 was half, therefore making the item less than valuable. In ancient times the expression “30 shekels of silver” became a normal expression that any item deemed worth that trivial amount was in affect completely worthless. The Prophet Isaiah expressed it well when we read Isaiah chapter 53. “HE WHO lost everything, gained everything, then HE promised us all that HE has.” HE was deemed a trifle, a slave, incomplete, worthless and of no value, then won for HIMSELF everything for eternity and promised us that follow HIM all HE has while we bask in the PRESENCE of GOD for eternity.” ( Excerpted from an article by Shira Schechter, titled The Path To Redemption.) “And HE [JESUS] said unto them, ‘Verily [TRULY] I say unto you, there is NO man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD’S SAKE, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME LIFE EVERLASTING.” (Luke 18:29-30 KJV)
GOD has never done anything that affects mankind and or the earth without first telling HIS Prophets. “Surely the LORD GOD will do nothing, BUT HE REVEALETH HIS SECRET UNTO HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS.” (Amos 3:7 KJV) It must be noted that not everyone claiming to be a “Prophet of the LORD” is truly a “Prophet of the LORD.” In this day and time most of them are “Profiteers of self Profits.” They almost all preach the same sermon, “Plant your seed [money] in my garden and watch me prosper. I can’t keep taking all these vacation trips without your help.” If they really possess the “power,” then why do they not go down to the nearest hospital and clear it out with their “so-called faith prayers?” They will never pick out a person with an affliction that can be seen, except the really popular one I usually call “The Leg Pulling Miracle.” This act has been used for around 100 years now and more especially among Apostolic Pentecostals. There is a simple trick to it that is barely noticeable. Simply hold up both legs or feet and make sure to hold one just short of the other (barely noticeable) and then pray and allow both to appear equal. It is usually guaranteed that almost everyone present will shout and now the “Profit of self” has gained credibility as a true “Prophet of GOD.” Our “Banner” is not “signs and wonders” but “TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS” in the HOLY GHOST. The “Gifts of the SPIRIT” are set in the church by the HOLY GHOST [self-same SPIRIT]and not by something we hear a lot of called, “Importation.” (I Corinthians12:7-11 KJV) “But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you LET HIM BE ACCURSED.” (Galatians 1:8 KJV)
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