[1] Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of
troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of
Israel
with a rod upon the cheek. Micah 5:1.
This is a detailed prophecy about a known city,
the
city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem stands at
the top of a list of worldwide cities that have been conquered over and
over
again historically by troops of many different nations and ethnic
groups. She has more than earned the title
“daughter
of troops.” This prophecy refers
specifically to a time in Christ’s ministry when Jerusalem had three
sets of
troops operating in her at the Feast of Passover. The
Governor of Israel, Pontius Pilate,
brought a large group of Roman troops from Caesarea to preclude the
possibility
of a Jewish rebellion at the time of Passover.
The Fortress Antonia, where he billeted them, was joined to the
northwestern
corner of the Temple Mount, and from its tower the Temple courtyards
could be
seen. Herod, the Roman appointed king of
Israel, had his troops quartered in his palace fortress on the western
side of
the old city. The Romans allowed the
High Priest to have a small contingency of troops associated primarily
in
duties involving Temple protection. The
time was the last Passover for Jesus on this earth. The
One who has “laid siege against us” is
God the Father, and the “us” is Israel.
The reason that God has laid siege against Israel, one that has
lasted
some 2000 years, is because of the rejection of His Son.
The prophesied rejection was fulfilled when
Christ was struck on the head repeatedly, as shown in the following
Scriptures: Matthew 26:66-68 plus 27:30,
Mark 14:65, Luke 22:63,64, and John 18:22 plus 19:3.
[2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee
shall HE
come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth
have been
from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5;2.
The place of Christ’s birth was predicted so
well
that it stands as one of the most exacting in the Scriptures. He was rejected as the judge of Israel in
Micah 5:1, and as her ruler in this verse.
That is why God has laid siege against them for some 2000 years. They have been the most persecuted,
prosecuted, and butchered people on this planet, and have known no true
peace
as a nation since their exile from Israel during the wars of Titus and
Hadrian
in the first century. The prophets of
old, even before Micah, had told of His “goings forth.” Even
Moses advised Israel from “of old” about
the coming of God’s Prophet. So Israel
had no excuse in failing to recognize Him as the Messiah when He
arrived.
[3] Therefore will HE give them up, until the
time
that she which travaileth hath brought
forth: then
the remnant of HIS brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. Micah 5:3.
“Therefore” is a conclusion to Micah 5:1,2. Because they rejected Him as “judge” and
“ruler,” He stood on the Mount of Olives and uttered the words of
Matthew 23:37
to 39. The word “until” tells us HE will
give Israel up “until” she finishes her final time of travail in the
great
tribulation period, at which time HIS Second Advent will bring HIM forth
as the
returning Lion of Judah. The word “then”
marks HIS return to earth with the saints (previously caught out at the
first
resurrection), who are “the remnant of HIS brethren” by grace through
faith in
Christ as adopted sons of Abraham.
[4] And HE shall stand and feed in the strength
of
the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall
abide:
for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. Micah 5:4.
This is clearly a prophecy of Christ’s
millennial
reign, with his kingdom extending from one end of the earth to the
other.
This is a link to the Home Page of:
Pastor Tom McElmurry
These are links to my Home Pages:
05. www.biblesermons123.com
TribulationPeriod1.com Rule and Reign
