Who is Edom in end times Bible prophecy?

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Genesis 25:27–28, Esau vs. Isaac. There are only two types of people on this earth: Esaus and Jacobs. Ponder or discuss this for a moment. Consider, for example, the fact that hanging on either side of Yeshua on the cross, spiritually speaking, there was a “Jacob” and an “Esau.” (Read Luke 23:39–43 and discuss.) We see the same thing in Matthew 24:39–41. (Discuss.)

What type of person was Esau? He was described as a cunning hunter. Nimrod was the only other person in Scripture termed “a hunter.” What kind of person would a hunter have been then compared to a farmer or herdsman? Esau was a man of the field. Field in Scripture is a metaphor for the world (see Matt 13:38). Esau was a profane (unhallowed, worldly, ungodly) man (Heb 12:16). He had no esteem for things of eternal value. That is why he sold his birthright. He lived for the moment and had no eye for, hope in, or faith toward the future. He sought instant gratification of his sensual nature. His god was his belly. He disdained and dishonored his family heritage and those things that were highly esteemed by his father and grandfather. In Gen 26:34–35, we see, to the great grief of his parents, Esau marrying one of the local heathen Canaanite girls. He did not honor his parents or respect their wishes and marry inside the faith.

Do these traits describe some unbelievers that you know, and even some believers? Perhaps you were like this before you were saved. Do we see many Esau-types running around among the younger generation today?

Genesis 25:30, Esau…Edom. Many, if not most of the modern Moslems (especially the Arabs) trace their lineage back if not biologically then spiritually to Ishmael, the son of Abraham by Hagar. Islam in its religious book, the Koran, claims that it was Abraham and Ishmael who built the Kaaba, which is the small building containing a stone that supposedly fell from heaven. This shrine is located in the midst of great mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

In Genesis 16:11–12 YHVH prophesied the following concerning Ishmael and his descendants:

The angel of YHVH said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son; and you shall call his name Ishmael, because YHVH has given heed to your affliction. And he will be a wild donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; and he will live to the east of all his brothers.”

The modern Moslems have twisted the biblical account of Abraham’s giving the birthright blessing to Isaac and believe instead that Ishmael was the promised son of blessing. Both Israelites and Arabs, therefore, believe that they have a right to the Promised Land of Canaan, and, hence, this disagreement is at the roots of the modern Arab-Israeli conflict.

Scripture further records that Esau, the disinherited son of Isaac, also had a jealous anger against his brother Jacob, who received the birthright promise instead of him. Scripture further records that Esau married the daughter of Ishmael (Gen 28:9). Thus in some of Esau’s descendants (he had more than one wife), the lineage of Esau and Ishmael were combined and both men had a jealous feud with the sons of Jacob, which has been passed down generationally to this day.

The Bible has more to say prophetically about the descendants of Edom than about those of Ishmael. Edom is portrayed as an aggressive and bloodthirsty people who are opposed to Israel at every step. We will discover what Scripture has to say about this below.

In the mean time, let’s take a closer look at Edom.

  • Edom (meaning “red”) was Esau’s nickname (see Gen 25:25, 30; 36:1, 8–9, 19, 43).
  • Esau intermarried with the descendants of Ishmael (Gen 28:9).
  • Seir is another name for the land of Edom (Gen 32:3; 33:16; 36:8).
  • Esau intermarried with the people of Canaan (Gen 36:2). He intermarried with the Hittites, the Hivites, as well as the Ishmaelites.
  • His descendants included the Amalekites (Gen 36:12, 16) who fought against the children of Israel upon leaving Egypt and as soon as they had entered the wilderness en route to the Promised Land (Exod 17:1).
  • Esau’s sons were dukes or chieftains (leaders of clans) and kings (Gen 36:15–16, 40–43).

Although Esau’s direct lineage was confined to the area of the traditional land of Edom, in modern-day Jordan, it is clear from the biblical record that he and his descendants intermarried with many of the neighboring nations, so that his descendants were scattered far and wide over the region that later became known as the Holy Land.

The entire one-chapter Book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom. Let’s note several key points in this prophecy that might help us to understand some things about Edom in light of end-time Bible prophecy and how this relates to the end-times Arab-Israeli conflict. When you think of Edom, think of the modern day Palestinians.

Verse 2, The descendants of Edom are greatly despised (scorned, held in contempt, disdained).

Verse 3, Though they dwell in the clefts (places of concealment, retreats) of the rocks, they are proud and view themselves as invincible.

Verse 4, YHVH promises to bring Edom down.

Verse 7, Esau has a confederacy (league, alliance) of nations, which include many of the modern Moslem and Arab nations.

Verse 11, Edom’s eyes are on Jerusalem. Edom among other foreigners will cast lots for Jerusalem (seek to divide it among the nations or religions of the world as an international city under the control of the United Nations?).

Verse 13, Edom has entered into the gates of the land of Israel in the day of her calamity or disaster.

Verse 14, Edom will kill Jewish refugees trying to escape the land of Israel in her time of distress.

Verse 15, The time frame of the fulfillment of these prophecies is “near” the day of YHVH, when he will judge Edom and the other heathen nations.

Verse 16, Edom will be drinking (celebrating?) on the Temple Mount which is YHVH’s “holy mountain,” and as a result, they shall drink the cup of YHVH’s wrath.

Verse 17, The house of Jacob will get the Temple Mount back!

How many descriptions of the modern Palestinian and other Islamo-terrorists do we see in Obadiah? What other people-group fits this description? Is Esau a picture of many modern-day Palestinians and their Moslem backers who hate the Jews, the state of Israel and America?

We have learned who Jacob represents in end-time prophecy. Now we learn who Jacob’s descendants’ arch-enemy will be and who will attempt to prevent them from returning to the land of Israel. This will happen in the end times before the coming of the Messiah. We will learn more about this later.

As we noted, Edom’s hatred for Israel has its roots in the antagonism between Ishmael and Isaac, and then afterwards between Esau and Jacob. The hatred that Esau had for Israel has been passed on down to successive generations of Edomites. The biblical prophets discusses this murderous antagonism on Edom’s part as being carried down generation to generation to the very end times. Let’s review some of these biblical prophecies.

Ezekiel 36 speaks about the conflict between end-time Edom and end-time Israel. In verse two, we see that the enemies of Israel have regarded the “ancient high [or declared, promised] places” of Israel as “ours in possession.” This is a clear reference to the holy places in Israel (e.g. the Temple Mount for the Jews and Bethlehem for the Christians—only in recent years have the Palestinians taken Bethlehem and forced—out of persecution and intimidation—the majority of the large Christian population of that city to leave). “High places” can also refer to the militarily strategic high places such as the Golan Heights and the ridges surrounding the eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Next, let’s look at Ezekiel 35, which is a prophecy against Edom. In verses four through five, we see that end-time Edom will be devastated because of its perpetual hatred for the children of Israel. They have killed their enemies by the power of the sword. This is how Islamists have traditionally spread their religion—by their curved scimitar sword. Advancing Moslem armies force its captives to leave, covert or die. According to verse five, this is to be occurring at the time of the punishment (of the children of Israel?) at the time of the end (NAS) or the end of time (lit. Hebrew). This is another example of YHVH’s using Edom (Esau) to bring Ephraim and Judah to its knees in the time of the end.

In verses six through nine of the same chapter, we see that YHVH will punish Edom for its blood-thirstiness against Israel and will devastate its cities and slay large numbers of its people. Other biblical prophecies indicate that the militaries of Judah and Ephraim will be the means by which YHVH accomplishes this.

Finally, in verse 10, Edom (Islam) wants to take over or possess the two countries or lands (Heb. eretz) of Israel or those of Judah and Ephraim (or the Jews and Christians) even though YHVH was there (in the lands of his people). Their anger and hatred against Israel is based on envy or jealousy (verse 11) of Israel.

The Koran, the religious book of Islam, has taken the historic and prophesied hatred of Edom and formed a religion around it. The Koran was written by Mohammed, a Jew and Christian hater, more than one thousand years after the prophecies of Ezekiel and Obadiah. Here are some quotes from the Koran that confirm the prophecies of the Bible with regard to Edom.

Make war upon those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe not in God [Allah] … and who forbid not that which God and His Apostle [Mohammed] have forbidden, and who profess not the profession of the truth, until they pay tribute out of hand, and they be humbled. The Jews say, “Ezra is a son of God”; and the Christians say, “The Messiah is a son of God.” Such sayings in their mouths. They resemble the sayings of the infidels of old! God do battle with them! How they are misguided! (Sura 9:29–30)

When thy Lord spake unto the angels, “I will be with you: therefore stablish ye the faithful I will cast a dread into the heart of the infidels.” Strike off their heads then, and strike off from them every finger-tip. (Sura 8:12)

“O people of the Book! … Can I announce to you any retribution worse than that which awaiteth them with God? They whom God hath cursed and with whom He hath been angry—some of them hath he changed into apes and swine; and they who worship Thagout are in evil plight, and have gone far astray from the right path. (Sura 5:64–65)

Only recompense of those who war against God and His Apostle, and go about to commit disorders on the earth, shall be that they shall be slain and crucified, or have their alternate hands and feet cut off, or be banished from the land …(Sura 5:37)

Genesis 25:32, I am about to die. The implication here is not that Esau was about to die of hunger, but that he would die before seeing the fulfillment of the promises YHVH had made to Isaac and Abraham regarding possessing the land of Canaan. So what good would his birthright be? He would see no material gain from it in his lifetime. And he was right! But he was motivated by temporal and material gain, not spiritual, future rewards, which are possessed by faith, not by sight (Heb 11:1–2, 8–10, 39–40). Esau was a profane and secular man, and the Spirit and character of YHVH strive against and loathe such individuals (Mal 1:3; Rom 9:13) who prefer secular and sensual pleasures to pleasing YHVH. Their god is their belly and they mind earthly things (Phil 3:19). This was the state of the Laodicean believers in Revelation 3:14–22. Pause now and reflect. Don’t pass over these admonitions lightly. Search your heart for the areas where you put the secular, material and sensual above YHVH and then repent. Ask the Ruach (Spirit) of YHVH to open your eyes to the blind areas in your life.

 

13 thoughts on “Who is Edom in end times Bible prophecy?

  1. Christ Bible prophecy called Jacob’s trouble in these last days coming to pass! Psalm 83:6-7 Tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

    • As I often say, the storyline has remained the same over the millennia. Only the actors and costumes have changed.

      As far as Edom being a confederacy, we see this theme repeated in the Gog and Magog prophecy of Ezek 38 (note verses 3–6), except the playing field has expanded to included some more players.

      • After a life-time spent among evangelical christians. I have clearly seen the Western Babylon (Catholic beliefs) that lay down the train tracks and raise the buildings in this part of the world.

  2. How dare Muhammad hates Christians and Jews! He should have known better than that. If anyone asks me, true Muslims don’t [hate] Christians and Jews.

    • If a “true Muslim” doesn’t hate Christians and Jews (and other so called “infidels” then he isn’t a “true Moslem,” since he isn’t following the Koran, which tells him to hate, murder, torture, kill, steal from, tax and enslave Jews and Christians. Do you want me to quote chapter and verse from the Koran? I can…

      • Regardless what the Koran says if folks can’t see that these books have been written by the hand of men and rules for generations to follow.. if edom had a plan from the beginning then that would surely put in I to action by laying a religious book to follow… In a world with religions being written to fit the actions of men and to justify certain deeds it doesn’t matter if you quote from the Koran or not.. if ye be Christ and live live Abraham then ye are the seeds of Abraham… We are not following flesh and blood but spirit.. all those that wish to take wrath into their own hands are playing god.. it’s not our job to kill, inslave , punish, if that’s the case we are all following our own ways and that has nothing to do with most high what so ever, but men’s will and deeds… Adam was put here to subdue and rule,, not kill and oppress … You most certainly do not have to kill” to subdue and rule.. these are twisted ways of men’s lack of understanding.. we are to be a light to the world ,, killing not matter what terms done under is most definitely a product of darkness.. there is no ,Jew or gentile, old or young, male nor female, by spirit we recognize who we are not by flesh thats been mixed to unrecognized appearance in all races… Even the Muslim folks have a choice.. they can choose to not kill and live righteously by spirit and over come the murderous mentality.. just as EVERONE Elsa.. people choose to carry out what they think is right.. men’s wills.. small minds and weak people can’t figure out how to live accordingly and follow true spirit because this world conflicts it within yourselves to feel as if you going against yourself when fighting right and wrong characteristically…the whole world is being deceived and most high will work through the simple minded to Carry out his will on earth .. it’s all quite clear to me . It hurts me though that the whole world is head first in moving within the ways of flesh and the will of men… ALL THAT CARRY ON THIS WAY WILL NOT MAKE IT INTO THE KINGDOM… Love thy brother and thy nabor.. folks are so lost in translation it’s scary .. with the lack of understanding men go to their own thoughts and justifications… Prime example… Courts today regardless if your guilty of murder and they know it to be fact.. if you have a good amount of money then you able to buy your freedom without and consequence… That’s Justice? That’s right judgement?.. most definitely not… Monetary gain is the way of the world .. even these bogapus churches and money gathering events… I can go on and on about things.. but it be pointless.. because if folks understand this stuff then it wouldn’t be the way things are… Facts)… doctrines of men separate.. be a religious book or what ever.. folks are gonna live the way they want to regardless what they know to be right morally … True Israel also are not sitting all In One spot playing the identity game.. WHAT PART OF SCATTERED IS THAT?.. hope the world wakes up before everyone takes things I to there own hands to follow the ways of corruption within the character of men…that devil of old is working over time.. the strong delusion is real

      • My kingdom is not of this world. John 8:15
        true believers have to fully disregard EVERYTHING that’s of this world and prepare for the SPIRITUAL kingdom.Money,materials,anything to do with literal solid matter,and as well as worldly justice should be considered ,if not sinful,at least the road to sin.I see criminal justice as a type of sin if a person looks at it as retribution.Must be careful to ALWAYS forgive,let God be the vengeful one.Not saying criminals shouldn’t pay but point is a murder is a sin as equal to any other sin.You sin,i sin everyone sins,there’s only ONE that’s isn’t guilty of sin in the last 6000+ years.Without Him were all equally short of God’s glory.

  3. Shalom, nama saya Denis dari Indonesia. Disini kaum Mus [edited out…not written in English].

    • Shalom Denis. I edited out most of your post, since it’s not in English. You’re welcome to repost it in English. This is an English only blog. I have to be able to read a post before I can post it. This way, we can keep out comments that don’t meet the rules of this blog from being posted. This includes comments which are anti-biblical, anti-Messiah, anti-Christian, unrighteous and pro-Satanic or pro-pagan religious comments. This is not the place for such comments. Thank you for understanding.

    • When the whole counsel of YHVH’s Word is taken into consideration, not just a few verses in one chapter, the biblical God-view of Jacob is NOT that of a perfect man, but of one who overcame his carnal nature and had a heart to serve and obey YHVH. That was not the case with Esau.

  4. Im sorry, but I find this article though neatly and thoughtfully laid out to be for the most part inaccurate. By the name of this site I thought the subject matter would be biblically sound and coming from a jewish perspective. Jews know the west as Edom, Im sure you are aware of this..but is this just thrown out there carelessly withouy any factual basis? No, in fact edom is described in detail and his spirit is alive and flourishing in the world today. The scriptures has two seperate descriptions for both edom or esav and Ishmael, esauv was born of Isaac not Ishmael..these are two seperate people and distinctly identifiable today. Edom is a very wreckless and chaotic, violent, angry and ignorant man full of tactless deception, hypocrisy and has no identifiable innate culture nor godliness. Edom becoming Rome is not speaking just spiritually but the seed of esav makeup what is europe today, and america. Undoubtedly his spirit and nature are present.. america being the head and the wests last bastian and hope. It is by design and foretold that in the last days edom or the west would completely collapse and western nations today are being outright attacked and diminishing rapidly by global interests. There is no man alive today more hated and despised than the western caucasian man amongst the nations, as much as he would like to believe he is well loved and respected. Though jews have many foes, there is none so great than this man. As the roman empire spread across europe and conquered so did edoms seed spread and flourish. The greatest atrocities and persecutions towards jews were carried out by europeans, there is a hate rooted and much much more deep than that of ishmael. Jacob today is still playing his brother eauv and interacting with him and negotiating and tricking him. It is the west that will be utterly destroyed and never rise again and whos history will be blotted out. No one has terrorized the world more than this man. Edom is the current custodian of the world and governing the world.The u.n., global court, global religion is all based out of europe, America is basically a modern day rome with the spirit of babylon. The eagle is the key.. and mentioned several times when referring to edom.. the eagle is strictly a western symbol of empire. The welsh flag being a red dragon might give some sort of indication as well, the history there is a whole other discussion. I can spend an hr proving my point.. I would consider this idea. The physical has not only been captured through european colonialism but the world mind and consciousness has been hijacked by edom and has taught the earths inhabitants to view existence through his lens..and thus we have brother fighting against brother, nation against nation. He has usurped and deceived every nation on earth and left them in ruins depleting them of their lifeblood and resources, and has his hands into everything upon this earth. It is quite obvious who edom is today sir. But this man has decieved and disrupted the earth so much, in his pride and rebellious nature he cannot see himself, and accounts himself as goodly and righteous with the rights to rule and conquer. As it is written “Edom is the end of the world and Jacob is the world to come” Edom must be in full power at the end of the age as it is prophesied, and he is. “though he soar like the eagle and places his nest amongst the stars I The Lord will bring him down.”

    • Thank you for your comments. You mentioned that you expected my article on Edom to be from a Jewish perspective. Well, for your information, I make no claims about writing anything from a Jewish, Christian or any other perspective, and it is folly for my readers to assume this. I endeavor to write from a biblical Truth perspective, and whether it happens to lean toward a Jewish or Christian perspective is purely coincidental. My readers are welcome to lean toward any perspective they want. As for me, I am in search of a higher form of (divinely revealed) Truth wherever it may be found regardless of whether it lines with rabbinic, Christian or any other traditions of men. If one is basing one’s definition of truth on the religious traditions of men, then one will likely disagree with me on many points including who is Edom. Blessings.

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