Libya
LIBYA
Phut/Put/Lub
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Today our nation and many nations of the world are at war with Libya. This comes on the heels of the shaking of Egypt, Southern Sudan, Yemen, Tunisian, Albania and a devastating earthquake in Japan. Isaiah 19 clearly prophesies the present situation in Egypt. Then Isaiah 30 states the judgment of those who will meddle in Egypt outside of the will of the Lord. 30:1-2: “Woe to the rebellious children, declares the Lord who execute a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance but not of my Spirit, in order to add sin to sin.”
How does Libya fit into the present judgment of the nations? “The Lord is riding on a “swift cloud”. (Isaiah 19:1).
Libya is mentioned nine times (that I was able to find) in the Bible. This ancient nation is identified as Phut, Put, Lub and Libya #6316 = “Poot” = “put”. of the Lubim, dried, parched, thirsty Land.”
- Genesis 10:5-6: “From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. And the sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. (Also in 1 Chr. 5-6)
Ham was the son of Noah. Except for Canaan (which is now Israel), all of these sons became nations of the continent of Africa.
- Ezekiel 27:10: “Persia and Lud and Put were in your (Tyre) army, your men of war. They hung shield and helmet in you; they set forth your splendor.”
Ezekiel 27 is a lament over the ruin of Tyre, Lebanon and the loss of her earthly splendor. The passage dwell on the worldwide trade, commerce, and material wealth of Tyre. Throughout the chapter Tyre is likened to a ship that is well outfitted, strongly piloted, and ultimately shipwrecked.
Thirty-six (36) nations bought and sold with Tyre. Kelley Varner writes, “this exemplifies the mark of the beast.” (Rev. 12: 13-18) (Acts 17:29) and reminds us of our Lord Who cleansed the Temple of the moneychangers at the beginning (Jn. 2) and the end (Matt. 21) of His public ministry, throwing out all those who bought and sold. Among these thirty-six (36) nations Lud (Libya) is included. These nations played the harlot with Tyre.
27:27: The day of her ruin is the Day of the Lord. The Kingdoms of the earth are to be enriched no more (27:33). She shall be broken (Ez. 12; Dan 2). She and her company shall fall. (27:34).
- Ezekiel 30: Lament over Egypt:
Ez. 30: 1-5: The word of the Lord came again to me saying, Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord God, “Wail, alas for the day! For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. And a sword will come upon Egypt, And anguish will be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt, They take away her wealth, and her foundations are torn down. Ethiopia, Put Lud, all Arabia, Libya, and the people of the land that is in league will fall with them by the sword.”
The word for “day” #3117 Strong’s is the same Word used in Matt. 24:22, and in all other prophecies concerning the Day of the Lord. Chapter 30 prefigures the Day of the Lord in an eschatological sense (as in Isa. 2:12; Jer. 30: 5-7), the time of the judgment of the nations.
Egypt, here under the figure of the Day of the Lord, reveals a time in which the Sword (30:4), the Word of God will come upon the world and the carnal mind. the pride of her power shall come down. Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all Arabia, Libya, and the people of the land that are in league will fall with them by the sword.
The word “league” is # 1285 (Byrith). “determination, stipulation, covenant. This is the same as the covenant between God and Abraham (Gen. 15:18), husband and wife,(Mal. 2:14). This alliance was a contract which was accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath which sealed the relationship with promises of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience.
The only alliance that these nations have in common today is the alliance of Islam.
- Ezekiel 38:1-5: “And the word of the Lord came to me saying, Son of man set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tobal, and prophesy against him…(Vs.5) Persia, Ethiopia, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet.”
In this prophecy, Libya is in league with the Gog/Magog war against Israel. This war has not yet occurred. I have a teaching posted on the website about the Gog/Magog nations. These are the nations around the Black and Caspian seas, with Persia and North Africa (Libya/Put, and Ethiopia) who will invade the promised land.
- Nahum 3 – Judgment against Nineveh: This is an ancient city of Iraq. Verse 8 compares her to No-Amon, Egypt. It was called No-Ammon because it was the abode of the god of Ammon (god of creation and the wind). (Verse 9) “Ethiopia was her might, and Egypt too, without limits, Put and Lubim were among her helpers”
- Daniel 11:40-43: “And at the end time the king of the south will collide with him (the anti-christ), and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through. He will enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand; Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.”
- Isaiah 66:19 “For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come and see My Glory. And I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan to the distant coastland that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory and they will declare My Glory among the nations. Then they will bring all your brethren from all the nations to the Lord, on horses, in chariots, in liters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord.”
1.6% of the 6.7 million people of Libya are Christian. The Catholic faith is the dominant Christian faith. The dominant religion is Muslim. I believe this scripture in Isaiah is prophetic that all of these nations, plus many more were present at Pentecost. The sign of the Mighty Rushing Wind and the apostles speaking in their tongue was the “sign” prophesied by Isaiah.
As we continue to pray for this nation and their present tribulation, we can be comforted that people from Libya were present at Pentecost in fulfillment of this prophecy. The Lord’s work is redemption.
8. Acts. 2:1: “And when the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place, and Suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” (I would think that Mighty Wind knocked down the idol of the god of NO-Ammon – smile).
The word for “day” here has the same meaning as the word for “day” in the Old Testament.
2:6: “When his sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, “Why are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language where we were born?... (Vs.10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes”
A further study of Isaiah 66 is a type of New Jerusalem. The Lord has found a place of rest in a people. It describes the immensity and the eternalness of God.
66:1-4 - The wicked worship of an apostate people of God is rebuked.
66:5 The righteous remnant is persecuted and encouraged.
66:6 The Lord comes suddenly to His temple (Mal. 3:1)
66: 7-9 The nation is born in a day (1 Pet. 2: 9-10; Rev. 12)
66:10-14 The Church is glorified and exalted in the Kingdom.
66: 15-17 The Messiah ministers His Justice and Judgment.
66: 18-21 The nations are brought into the Kingdom
66:22 The Seed and the name of the New Order will remain.
66:24 The wicked are judged.
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Scripture from New American Standard; Quotes from Kelly Varner in Principles of Present Truth on Ezekiel. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have gleaned.
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