Just as ancient Assyria’s conquest of Israel’s Promised Land was masterminded by its tyrannical king, so end-time “Assyria” and its king figure repeat this scenario. God summons Assyria to invade his people’s lands as a consequence of their wickedness. In contrast to God’s people, who have sunk into a licentious and decadent condition, Assyria’s army is well-disciplined.
Isaiah 10:5–6Hail the Assyrian, the rod of my anger!
He is a staff—my wrath in their hand.
I will commission him against a godless nation,
appoint him over the people
[deserving] of my vengeance,
to pillage for plunder, to spoliate for spoil,
to tread underfoot like mud in the streets.
Isaiah 5:26–29He raises an ensign to distant nations
and summons them from beyond the horizon.
Forthwith they come, swiftly and speedily.
Not one of them grows weary,
nor does any stumble;
they do not drowse or fall asleep.
Their waist-belts come not loose
nor their sandal thongs undone.Their arrows are sharp;
all their bows are strung.
The tread of their warhorses resembles flint;
their chariot wheels revolve like a whirlwind.
They have the roar of a lion;
they are aroused like young lions:
growling, they seize the prey, and escape,
and none comes to the rescue.
Isaiah 1:7Your land is ruined,
your cities burned with fire;
your native soil is devoured by aliens in your presence,
aid waste at its takeover by foreigners.
Isaiah 64:10–11Your holy cities have become a wilderness;
Zion is a desert, Jerusalem a desolation.
Our glorious holy temple
where our fathers praised you
has been burned with fire,
and all places dear to us lie in ruins.