The End Times Star and Scepter Prophecies of Numbers 24

on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 by Bill Salus

On July 13, 2019, one of our newsletter subscribers named Cheryl emailed the questions below.

QUESTION: I’ve come across this prophecy by Balaam in Numbers 24:14, 17-20. Have these verses been fulfilled?

“And now, indeed, I going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” (Numbers 24:14)

“I see Him, but not now. I behold Him, but He is not near. A star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel and shall crush all the corners of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth, (Moab’s sons of tumult.) Edom shall be taken as a possession. Mount Seir also shall be dispossessed, who were Israel’s enemies, while Israel does valiantly. Out of Jacob shall one come having dominion and shall destroy the remnant from the city.” Balaam looked at Amalek, took up his prophetic utterance, and said: “Amalek is the foremost of the neighboring nations, but in his latter end he shall come to destruction.” (Numbers 24:17-20)

ANSWER by Bill Salus:

My comments are in BOLD RED FONT below.

“And now, indeed, I (Balaam the prophet) am going to my people. Come, I will advise you (Balak the King of Moab) what this people (The Israelites) will do to your people (The Moabites) in the latter days.” (Numbers 24:14)

FURTHER NUMBERS 24:14 COMMENTS by Bill Salus

The prophecy declares what the Hebrews, (Israelis), will do to the Moabites, (Jordanians), in the “latter days”. This phrase in the Hebrew is “acharyith yawm,’ literally meaning the last days.

“I see Him, (The Messiah of Israel) but not now. (In the end times at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ) I behold Him, but He is not near. (Not now in the near future, but in the distant or far future, and not near on the earth, but in Heaven). A star shall come forth out of Jacob, (The Messiah) and a scepter shall rise out of Israel (An empowered generation of descendants of Israel, i.e. the IDF) and shall crush all the corners of Moab (Central Jordan) and break down all the sons of Sheth, (Moab’s sons of tumult). (In fulfillment of Zephaniah 2:8-9). Edom (Southern Jordan) shall be taken as a possession. (By the IDF in fulfillment of Obadiah 1:18-19, which enables the Faithful Remnant of Jews to flee to Petra as per Matthew 24:16) Mount Seir (Petra, Jordan is located there) also shall be dispossessed, (Fulfilling Obadiah 1:18 and Ezekiel 25:14) who were Israel’s enemies, while Israel (The IDF) does valiantly. Out of Jacob shall one come having dominion and shall destroy the remnant from the city.” Balaam looked at Amalek, took up his prophetic utterance, and said: “Amalek is the foremost of the neighboring nations, but in his latter end he shall come to destruction.” (Refer to Psalm 83:7) (Numbers 24:17-20)

FURTHER NUMBERS 24:17-20 COMMENTS by Bill Salus

Balak was the king of Moab and he wanted to curse the Israelites. Balaam told him that this won’t happen, that the Messiah will come from the Israelites and that Moab would be cursed by the Israelites. This is part of the curse for curse in kind clause of Genesis 12:3. Balak wanted to destroy the Israelites, but the Israelites will destroy Moab. Interestingly, Moab, Edom and Amalek are all part of the Psalm 83:6-8 confederacy. I explain this prophecy in my book entitled, Psalm 83: The Missing Prophecy Revealed, How Israel Becomes the Next Mideast Superpower.

CONCLUDING NUMBERS 24:14, 17-20 COMMENTS by Bill Salus

In my estimation, Numbers 24:17-20 remains unfulfilled.

FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS:

On July 14, 2019, the two follow up questions were asked by Cheryl and answered by Bill.

FOLLOW UP QUESTION #1: Sorry, I thought the Scepter to be Messiah?

ANSWER by Bill Salus:

“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49:10, NKJV; emphasis added)

The scepter is an ornamental staff that represented the governing authority of a king or ruler over his people. In the usage of Numbers 24 it extrapolates into a military context as Moab gets crushed, Edom is taken as a possession, Mount Seir is dispossessed and Israel does valiantly.

This Genesis verse explains that the scepter is entrusted to Israel until it is relinquished unto the Messiah, “to whom it belongs.” This transfer of power is at the Second Coming and into the Messianic Kingdom when the nations obey Christ. This is also evidenced by the verse below.

“But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your (Messianic) kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8, NKJV; emphasis added)

FOLLOW UP QUESTION #2: Are you sure that the “not now” is Second Coming rather than first?

ANSWER by Bill Salus:

As far as your other question about the First or Second Coming: The text is not clear whether the title of “Star” alludes to the First or Second Coming. Since this involves the latter days, I favor the Second Coming scenario. However, it could connect with the Star of Bethlehem reference in Matthew 2 (1st Coming), or the Morning Star in Revelation 2 (2nd Coming). This question would require a deeper study to know.

Thanks for your interesting questions and I hope my answers and comments help.

Best Reading Regards
Bill Salus