Saturday, December 27, 2008

A prophecy by Isaiah about Egypt that has yet to be fulfilled

19 In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord.
20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.
21 And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it.
22 And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.
23 ¶ In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
25 Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:19-25)
As a Latter-day Saint, I take this to mean some interesting things. It seems to say that the gospel of Christ will be taught and accepted in Egypt, that a temple will be built there, and most startlingly, an alliance will be formed between Egypt, Israel, and Assyria with free travel between them.

[H]e shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them – This seems to signify the Christ is the Savior of the Egyptians as well as the Messiah of the Jews. He saves from oppression.

[T]hey shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them – This signifies repentance, which requires faith in Christ as the Savior of mankind, and promises forgiveness and healing.

And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day – This signifies that the Egyptians will have a personal witness and testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ. They will know that He is the Son of God.

[T]hey shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it – This signifies the making of sacred covenants with the Lord and performing sacred ordinances, both at baptism and at the temple.

In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord – The altar, as a part of the temple, is used here to poetically represent the temple, so if there is an altar in Egypt, that means a temple is built there too.

Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. – This shows us that the Lord blesses all those who listen and obey, no matter what race or nation they come from. Isaiah prophesies of the Lord’s future delight with these nations for their righteous acts when they come into His covenant.

If you read the U.S. State Department’s 2007 report on the status of Egypt’s International Religious Freedom you will see how much of a miracle all of the above will be.

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