JORDAN - BOOK OF OBADIAH
OBADIAH (2026)
JORDAN
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
January 30, 2024, August 25, 2026
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
In the year 2000, while I was teaching on the Fiery Flying Serpent, a prophetic word came forth that I should “keep my eye on King Abdullah and watch and pray over the political situation surrounding him.”
In January 1989, Roger Teale gave an awesome prophecy about a winged serpent: “Look for a man to rise with a pen in his hand for he is a man of calculation and he shall be much sought after. Authority will be given to him to sign for the powerful and mighty his name shall become a word of men for bond of agreement. He moves swiftly to and fro across the earth, his ways are unknown but to the few. His skin is dark but his eyes are blue and antiquity is his passion. Watch for the implementation of his prophecy, for men will move as he speaks, to obey. His strength is in his eyes, for with the eyes he sees not as other men see but he sees what is to be, for he is not my prophet, but a prophet of deception and knows the weakness of men. Many shall carry his burden as they submit to his spirit which is strong. Look to the Nation of Princes for he is a prince among his own and shall be the winged serpent.”
King Abdullah of Jordan ascended the throne on Feb. 7, 1999, upon the death of his father, King Hussein.
On March 31. 2013, King Abdullah and President Abbas signed an agreement to defend Jerusalem and its holy sites---both Christian and Muslim. The agreement, he said, confirmed both Jordan’s role as protector of the city’s holy sites and Palestinian sovereignty over all of Palestine, including its claim to East Jerusalem as its capital. We know this agreement fell through and today 50 % of Gaza is occupied by Israel.
King Abdullah, II of Jordan, as ruler of the Hashemite Kings is custodian of Jerusalem’s Holy sites. Abdullah has authority to exert all legal efforts to safeguard them, especially Al Aqsa Mosque, which is defined as “The Temple Mount. He also rules Mecca, holiest city in Islam. Abdulla presents himself as a defender of moderate Suni Islam and a champion of interfaith dialogue. His emphasis on moderation, tolerance, and co-existence has earned him international recognition. His Hashemite lineage descends from the Prophet Muhammad. His interfaith initiatives enhance his moral standing globally.
5/26/26: “Claims surfaced that the U.S. and Israel were exploring a proposal to replace Jordan’s custodianship through the Islamic Waqf with a new governing framework that would expand Jewish prayer rites and transform the site into what is described as a “multi-faith center.” Jordan reaffirmed that its position remains firm and its custodial role is recognized through the 1994 peace treaty with Israel. Saudi Arabia reportedly opposed the proposal.”
Oba. 1:11: …In the day… foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem--- even you (Edom) were as one of them.
The heart of Obadiah’s prophecy is aimed at the Edomites who stand under the judgment of God for their inhumanity to Israel. Most of ancient Edom is present day Jordan but overlaps into Israel, Syria, Iraq, West Bank and Saudi Arabia. Obadiah is prophesying to the spirits of Edom and Esau which hate Israel.
Obadiah lists Edom’s crimes in their ascending horror. However, Obadiah moves from the general to the particular; from God’s judgment upon Edom to the “day of the Lord,” which will mean his judgment upon all nations.
“The US operates multiple military bases in the Middle East. These bases range from small outposts in Syria and military encampments shared with host nations to airbases under full US control. Some are large and visible while others remain highly secretive, likely managed by a combination of CIA or US special forces personnel. The US has bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, UAE, Jordan, and Oman.” (Wikipedia).
Obadiah’s prophecy is a vision. The date is disputed, but for the purpose of applying it to the present situation surrounding Israel today, I chose the date 853-841 BC when Jerusalem was invaded by the Philistines and Arabs during the reign of Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 8L 20-22; 2 Chron. 21: 8-20). The Word of God has no shadow of turning. The Lord’s judgments in past centuries are true for the present. This is also true of His blessings.
Obadiah’s name means, “Servant of Yahweh.”
“The Talmud says he was an Edomite proselyte and a descendant of Eliphaz, the friend of Job. He is identified with the Obadiah who was the servant of Ahab. Obadiah is supposedly to have received the gift of prophecy for having hidden the “hundred prophets” from the persecution of Jezebel. He was very rich, but all his wealth was expended in feeding the poor prophets. He borrowed money at interest from Ahab’s son, Jehoram. Obadiah’s fear of God was one degree higher than that of Abraham. If the house of Ahab had been capable of being blessed, it would have been blessed for Obadiah’s sake.” (Wikipedia).
Obadiah 1:1: The vision of Obadiah: Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom (a type of all the enemies of Jesus and His Kingdom); we have heard a rumor from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle (NKJV).
The messengers. an envoy, (herald angels), are sent to the nations to call them to war against Edom. God’s word is against a proud nation. The people who think they are so great will be brought low. Edom’s self-assurance is a false one even if it were able to ascend high above its fortified cities like the eagle, to nest among the stars (Vs. 4), it would be unable to evade God’s judgment.
The scripture, “nest among the stars,” could have been a vision of our present-day space stations.
That is a message to our nation and other nations, that even as we are now able to fly to the stars, there will be no escaping the judgment of God except through the saving Blood of Jesus Christ.
The plunderers of Edom are compared to thieves and grape pickers who come in the night (vs 5). Thieves normally take only what they want, and gatherers of grapes leave a residue for the poor (Lev. 19:10), but the nations of armies sent to Edom to avenge Judah will leave nothing.
Obadiah 1:6: Oh, how Esau shall be searched out! How his hidden treasures will be sought after.
Esau: The use of the name of an individual represents a larger group, a way of thinking, a corporate personality, a culture of people, a principality. Mountains of Esau (vs 8) represents the mountainous region inhabited by the Edomites in contrast to Mount Zion. Teman (vs.9) (modern Tawila) was the chief Edomite city and was protected by the nearby fortress-city of Sela. Its inhabitants were renowned for their wisdom (Jer. 49:7). The mountains of Esau serve as a symbol of Edom’s strength and security, which would ultimately be brought low by God’s judgment.
Obadiah 1:10: For the violence against your brother, Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.
Edom stood aloof from Judah and failed to help their brothers when they were attacked. It is as much a sin to do nothing when we are attacked as it is to be the attacker. The Edomites looked on with malicious satisfaction in the day of Israel’s misfortune. We saw this when the American Palestinians were chanting and protesting the war with Hamas.
Oba. 1:11-12: In that day that you stood on the other side--- in the day that strangers carried captive his forces; when foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem--- Even you were as one of them. You should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity. Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress. You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction in the day of their calamity. Nor laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity.
Edom’s treachery toward Judah reached its extremity by refusing to receive refugees from Jerusalem after its destruction.
The judgment of God upon the spirit of Esau and the Edomites is but one aspect of the approaching day of the Lord, which is a day of judgment upon all nations. This day will be a day of great reversals: As you have done, it will be done to you.
1:15-16: For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you. Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. For as you drank on My holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually. Yes, they shall drink, and swallow, and they shall be as though they had never been.
The image of drinking a cup filled with stupefying wine is frequently used in the O.T. for the experience of God’s wrath. We can either drink of the cup of God’s fury, or the cup of His blessing. A remnant of Israel will be established upon a re-consecrated Mount Zion, the house of Jacob (Judah the southern kingdom) and the house of Joseph (Israel, the northern kingdom).
Oba. 1:17-18: On Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness. The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame. But the house of Esau shall be stubble. They shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain in the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken.
The house of Esau will be destroyed. The restoration of Judah will involve an expansion of its territories. Israelis from the Negev will inherit the land of Edom (the mountains of Esau). Israelis of the foothills will occupy the coastal plain known as the land of the Philistines: the territory of the former northern kingdom. Ephraim and Samaria will be re-inhabited by Israelis, as will Gilead in Transjordan. Exiles will return to possess the land as far north as Zarephath and as far south as the Negev.
Oba. 1: 19-20: The South shall possess the mountains of Esau; and the lowland shall possess Philistia. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim and the fields of Samaria. Benjamin shall possess Gilead. The captives of this host of the children of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath. The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the South.
Zephaniah 2 confirms a day when Israel will possess the full spectrum of land promised to Abraham. Some are persuaded this will happen at the Second Coming of Christ. However, I believe the land will be returned to the Jews as prophesied by Obadiah and other prophets.
In Genesis 13, the Lord promised Abraham an enormous amount of land. The wars of the ages have been fought over the “promise to Abraham’s seed (Jesus Christ) and the Promised Land.
God was and is faithful to keep his covenant by giving the land to the seed of Abraham.
Heb. 11:8-9: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
Joshua defeated 31-kings and took a vast amount of the Promised Land. However, he did not take it all.
The Lord says a strange thing to Joshua which I find sobering, “Joshua was old and stricken in years. (He was 85 years old when he succeeded Moses and lived to 110 years.) The Lord said to him, “You are old and stricken in years; there remains yet very much land to be possessed.”
1. All the borders of the Philistines.
2. All Geshuri (a province of Syria).
3. From Sihor (before Egypt to Ekron)
4. The 5 lords of the Philistines (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron).
5. The Avites
6. Many others in the south and the north. (13: 4-6)
About 400 years later King David and King Solomon expanded the Promised Land into an even-greater Israel. David fought many battles with the Philistines, and subdued them, but never totally defeated them.
1 Ki. 4:21: Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines…
This gives some insight to the Palestinian cry, “from the river to the sea.”
This was as good as the possession of the land ever became. The Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Greeks, Romans, Germans, etc. have all tried to destroy not only the Jews, but their promise of the Land. It is the battle of the ages between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world under the power of the spirit of antichrist.
On October 7, 2023, terror again struck the land of Israel. This was the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The enemy entered Israel by sea, and by air. From the Gaza Strip, thousands of rockets fired into the dwellings of the Israelis. They entered into towns, streets, young families in their beds. The murdered infants and children. They took hundreds captive. Palestinians rejoiced all over the world.
6/20/2026: “In its multiple regional conflicts since the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, Israel has seized swaths of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria that amount to its biggest territorial expansion in decades.
It is an area larger than many major cities — roughly 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) — and Israel currently has no plans to withdraw. It says the “buffer zones” it has established in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria are required to prevent future attacks.” (Israel Times).
It is given to an obscure prophet by the name of Obadiah to decree “In the Day of the Lord,” there will be a great reversal and all the land promised to Abraham will be given to the House of Jacob. To decree once more the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant --- the promise to bless them that bless and curse them that curse the descendants of Abraham.
Oba. 1:21: Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s. (Jehovah, the Existing One).
Leaders anointed by the LORD will be established to govern the land of Edom and the other nations. The Kingdom of God will be established by the Savior, Jesus Christ. This is not a human kingdom, but the Lord’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
I believe as Christians, we must stand against the Temple Mount becoming a multi-faith center.
2 Th. 2:3-4 … the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Obadiah is about the Day of the Lord (vs. 15) “the night is far spent, the day is at hand; Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.”
The battle dress of God’s people in the Day of the Lord is the “armor of light,” the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.” God has provided armor for his people, not wings. The Day of the LORD will deal with horrible corruption that abounds in the land, and especially with the mixture that has characterized the people of God.
Let us pray in the midst of the shaking of nations, that God will show forth such a display and weight of His glory in our midst that we will be able to reprove the world of sin.
“I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. (Isa. 45:7-8).
I have an in depth teaching on “The Fiery Red Serpent.” I was unable to locate the teaching from the year 2000 which I referenced.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries church
10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.
Scripture form N.K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of F. F. Bruce Bible Commentary, W. Ward Gasque. Prophecy given by Prophet Roger Teale - Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.