Gilbert House Fellowship #500: Isaiah 19

We’ve been taught that idols are nothing more than carved blocks of wood or stone. That happens not to be the case.

Again this week, we encounter the Hebrew word used by Isaiah translated to “idols,” ellilim, which scholar Christopher B. Hays showed in a recent academic paper derives from the Akkadian name of the Mesopotamian father-god, Ellil. This is fascinating, because scholar William Gallagher noted in a paper published about 30 years ago that Ellil is the origin of the name translated “Lucifer,” Helel, in Isaiah 14:12.

In other words, rather than lifeless wood or stone, the “idols” of Isaiah are actually minions (demons?) of the entity we identify as Shemihazah, the fallen Watcher who led the rebellion of Genesis 6:1–4.

Isaiah’s oracle concerning Egypt prophesies the coming of a “fierce king,” probably the Assyrian king Esarhaddon, who conquered Egypt in the year 671 BC. But as with many of the Bible’s prophecies, there is a “not yet” fulfillment, and the chapter concludes with the Lord’s declaration that a day would come when Egypt (“My people”) and Assyria (“the work of My hands”) would make peace, worship God, with a highway between the two and Israel as the center of the nations.

By the way, this is our 500th Bible study going back to September 2014.

We’re asking for your help to Build Bunker Better! We’ve decided to remain in our home, but we need certain upgrades to make it safe for Derek given his mobility limitations compounded by COPD. Find out more at Gilberthouse.org/donate.

Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, has been battling stage 4 bowel cancer and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah.

Derek’s new book War of the Watchers Book One: From Baal to Balfour is now available at Amazon in paperback (https://www.amazon.com/War-Watchers-Book-Baal-Balfour/dp/1948014998?&linkCode=ll2&tag=peeringintoda-20&linkId=a330264a003c55880365ee0b24b7e14c&language=en_US&gaOptInStatus=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) and as a Kindle e-book! (https://www.amazon.com/War-Watchers-Book-Baal-Balfour-ebook/dp/B0HBN3VG71?&linkCode=ll2&tag=peeringintoda-20&linkId=e105942b522e45b8ac3082da9d99efdd&language=en_US&gaOptInStatus=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) It’s also a part of a special offer at the SkyWatchTV store: Get War of the Watchers, Derek’s previous book The Second Coming of Saturn, and a 13-part teaching DVD based on The Second Coming of Saturn for your donation of just $45! (https://www.skywatchtvstore.com/prod