The Burden of Egypt, and the Second Advent
The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt …
The Burden of Egypt
1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. Isaiah 19
What is the burden of Egypt? The word “burden” is the same Hebrew word H4853 interpreted as “prophecy” in the following verses.
Isaiah writes about a number of these “burdens” including the burden of Babylon. He also mentions that it’s a burden that he did “see”. To see is to prophesy as prophets are also called Seers.
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Isaiah 13
The burden of Egypt is a prophecy or a prophetic vision of Egypt.
He shall come into Egypt
1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. Isaiah 19
In our search, we found one record of the Lord riding into literal Egypt and against her gods.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. Exodus 12
However, Isaiah 19:1 speaks of this event using “shall” meaning it is in the future from his time of writing. We know at that time the Israelites had long left Egypt and therefore he cannot be talking about the Lord coming into Egypt at the tenth plague as narrated by Exodus 12. Also we just established that “the burden of Egypt” is a prophetic vision. When therefore will the Lord come into Egypt? Let us recall that Egypt is a symbol of the world. This was established in the study, “The Burden of Egypt, a Symbol of the World”. As admonished by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:13 , let us therefore compare spiritual with spiritual and verse with verse to understand.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of. the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Mark 13
From comparing Isaiah 19:1 with Luke 21 and Mark 13 we understand that the phrase, “Behold the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud”, is a description of the Son of man coming “in the clouds with great power and great glory.” What does it mean that, “the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it?”
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Luke 21
The melting of the heart of Egypt, the world, points to men’s hearts failing them for fear.
Brother against brother
2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. Isaiah 19
In the next verse, Isaiah foresees conflict among Egyptians, brothers, neighbours, cities and kingdoms. This is the same conflict at the end of the world foretold by our Master, even Jesus Christ, in Mark 13, Luke 21 and Matthew 24.
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: Luke 21
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Matthew 24
Conclusion
In summary, we have seen that the prophet Isaiah was given a prophetic vision of the end of the world using the symbol of Egypt. His prophecy lines up with Christ’s prophecy as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Isaiah 19 is speaking of events connected with the Second Coming also known as the Second Advent.