Isa. 63:1

1 Who is this that cometh [bow'] from Edom ['Edom], with dyed [chamets] garments [beged] from Bozrah [Botsrah]? this that is glorious [hadar] in his apparel [labuwsh], travelling [tsa`ah] in the greatness [rob] of his strength [koach]? I that speak [dabar] in righteousness [tsadaqah], mighty [rab] to save [yasha`]. KJV-Interlinear

1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. NASB

Jacob had a brother named Esau. Esau cared nothing for God, but cared only for the satisfactions of his own earthly desires. Esau traded away his birthright to Jacob for a single meal. Esau cared nothing for the birthright, nor even for the meal, but his stomach spoke louder than his reason and he traded away his future, never intending to keep that bargain.

Jacob received the birthright to which he was legitimately entitled, even though he used a little deceit toward his father, Isaac. When Esau discovered this, Esau became angry because he lost his inheritance, and because his double-cross did not work. Esau was in tears. Jacob was the victor.

Edom is the name of the region where the descendents of Esau, settled. It is located in our present-day southern Israel and southern Jordan, mostly in the region to the south and generally east of the Dead Sea.

Bozrah, is the capital of Edom. Edom means red and Bozrah means sheep pen.

Isaiah poses two questions in these first two verses. Who is this coming from Edom? Who is this coming from the east? And, Why are your clothes red?

Since the mid point of the Tribulation, when the anti-christ entered the Temple and became the abomination of the faith, then as a result, the residents were commanded to run to the mountains. It is in these mountains of southern Jordan, that they will find safety. The mountains are rugged, difficult to maneuver in, and thus anyone who wants to hide there will find that easy to do in such a wild place.

It is those folks who have hidden themselves in these mountains, for three and a half years, and under some of the most difficult of conditions, that will eventually be saved at the Second Advent. They will be under pressure from the mere slow passage of time, with severe weather which both protects them and hampers the efforts of their pursuers.

They will be pressured with many possible opportunities to stop their hiding and go back home, with the always present possibility that they might be discovered and turned in, with the constant need of food, or even occasional medical needs. With the uncertainty of what is actually going on in the rest of the world, with the loneliness and so forth.

Holding out for over three years will be extremely difficult. But, to those who do, the Second Advent of Christ will come right over their head. From the east, will Christ return. As the lightning flashes across the sky from the east to the west, so will be the coming of the Lord.

His appearance will be both dramatic and brilliant, as the light of His appearing will break the severe darkness that will cover the planet, just prior to His coming.

Those in the mountains of Edom, in the sheep pens of Bozrah, will be those who are held in the pens of safety. Sheep are generally at risk and open to all manner of predators, but when they are penned up, they are both vulnerable and protected, depending on the nature of their shepherd. Here, in the mountains they are protected. The mountains being the fences that protect them.

Though one lost his birthright long ago, and moved to the mountains, these folkser

will be forced into the mountains in order to secure their birthright.

Who is this that is coming? This is the question, that is posed to anyone who will listen. And throughout history, very few will turn their ear to listen to what God has to say.

Is it the source of any religion, that is coming? Is it the source of any belief that has been popular to man, that is coming? Is it man himself with all of his innovation, imagination, and technology, that is coming?

And why is anyone coming anyway? To save? To save from what? From eternal condemnation and eternal separation from God.

God holds the universe together. Jesus Christ is God. Man, when he rejects God, is in effect, rejecting the glue that holds everything together, even himself. So, if you discard the very thing that holds your life together, then you disintegrate into chaos. That is what man is really in danger of, when he rejects Christ.

So salvation is God saving man from this eternal separation. Man cannot hold on to his own life, let alone the universe, which is all around us. If we could do that, then we would all be living forever by now.

So, Who is it that is coming? It isn t any of the popular beliefs. It isn t any of the popular religions. It isn t any of the popular philosophies. It isn t any of the popular political views.

It can be only one person, the unique person of the universe, who is majestic in His apparel, in His appearance, in His glory, which He Himself earned, and is deserving.

And that answer is, It is He who originates righteousness and possesses the power to save.

Righteousness is the sum total of purity, of perfection, and of a sinless nature. It is free from blemishes and defects. It possesses no bias, no prejudices, and deals fairly with all.

No invention or design of man can match Gods righteousness. Man falls far short of Gods perfection. And, man does not possess the power, nor can he discover or invent the power to accomplish his own salvation.

You don t have to go very far to see this lack of capability. We still have crime in our cities, and the Middle East is heating up, yet again.

Yet the Bible teaches, and it can be sought after, but few will listen, most will not.

Now is the time to post a prayer.