The small, twenty-one verse long Book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom, the land of the descendants of Esau. Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, settled the land that became known as Edom, and was the source not only of Edomites, but also the wicked Amalekites and even the wicked king Herod, who was an Edomite.
The mountainous land of Edom was a refuge for the Edomites. The Lord declared that even though their habitation was high in the clefts of the rocks, He would bring them down (Obadiah 1:3-4).
This same land is the location of the City of Petra, hidden in the rocks of the country of Jordan today. There are Biblical reasons for the thought that a remnant of Israelites will be protected in the area of Petra during the Tribulation. Israel will flee to “the wilderness” for 1,260 days, or 3½ years (Revelation 12:5-6).
The Prophet Isaiah describes the Lord coming from Bozrah, in Edom, with His garments stained with blood as He fought, apparently in protection of Israel, with no one to help Him (Isaiah 63:1-4). An angel, believed to be Gabriel, told the Prophet Daniel that Edom would be spared from the great army of the Beast in the Last Days (Daniel 11:41).
The Lord gave a long list of reasons for His destruction of Edom in Obadiah 1:10-14. Although it is probable that the descendants of Esau have lost their identity as they mixed with other groups of people that we generally describe as Arabs, it is possible that the Lord knows exactly who is a descendant and they will be destroyed. The Lord declared that there would be no survivors of Esau (Obadiah 1:18).
After the condemnation of the many evil actions of Edom, the prophet switches to the Last Days.
“The Day of the Lord is near.” – Obadiah 1:15The Biblical principle of “what you sow, that you will reap” is applied to Edom. “... as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee” (Obadiah 1:15). Just as the nations, including Edom, drank on the holy hill of the Lord (Mount Zion), they will drink and drink of His wrath (Obadiah 1:16). They will drink of the Lord’s Cup of Wrath (Revelation 14:10, 16:19).
And following the theme of so many prophets, Obadiah records a message of hope for Israel in the Millennial Kingdom, the kingdom that Israel has been looking forward to for thousands of years. Israel will not only possess the land of Israel, but also the land of the Philistines, the land of Tyre and Sidon, and the mountains of Esau, or Edom (Obadiah 1:19-20).
In the last verse of Obadiah it is stated that “deliverers” (yasha Strong’s H3467), which I believe speaks of the resurrected Church, will ascend Mount Zion and will judge Edom. This fits perfectly with two of my favorite Scriptures.
“... but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” – Isaiah 35:9-10
“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” – I Corinthians 6:2The majestic culmination of the Book of Obadiah is found in the last verse.
“… and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.” – Obadiah 1:21How I look forward to the Day. May the Lord’s name be praised forever!