Chapter 24:14
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Balaam’s Last Prophecy

1. THE OPENING FOR THE FINAL PROPHECY (Numbers 24:14-16 [14] And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. [15] And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: [16] He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
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1. The Conqueror of the Prophecy (Numbers 24:14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
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1. This people
2. This is an obvious reference to Israel (Numbers 24:1-2 [1] And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. [2] And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
   See All...).
2. The Conquered of the Prophecy (Numbers 24:14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
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1. Thy people
2. This is a reference to the Moabites, but it must also refer to more than just them as the prophecies include the children of Sheth, Edom, Seir, Amalek, the Kenites, Asshur and Eber.
3. The Time of Fulfillment (Numbers 24:14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
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1. The latter days
2. Though certainly King David may have been a partial fulfillment of this prophecy (2 Samuel 8:2And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
   See All...), the main focus was on something that would happen in the latter days.
4. The Authority for this Prophecy (Numbers 24:15-16 [15] And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: [16] He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
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1. His eyes have been opened.
2. He heard the words of God.
3. He knew the knowledge of the most High.
1. This part has been added to what already existed in Numbers 24:4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
   See All....
2. Balaam is either claiming to know what God knows, or claiming to have a personal knowledge of the most High.
4. He saw the vision of the Almighty.
5. He fell into a trance.
2. THE PERSON OF BALAAM’S PROPHECY (Numbers 24:17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
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1. Balaam Shall See Him.
1. Trouble for the commentators
1. Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible: “Render, I see him, though he be not now: I behold him, though he be not near. Balaam here describes what is actually before him in inward vision.”
2. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary: “I shall see him--rather, "I do see" or "I have seen him"--a prophetic sight, like that of Abraham”
3. Matthew Poole’s Commentary:  “I shall see, or, I   have seen , or do see , for the future is oft put for other times or tenses: he speaks of a prophetical sight, like that of Abraham's, who saw Christ's day,”
2. Believing the Bible
1. Perhaps this is changing of tense in his prophetic speech, but there are certainly other possibilities without changing the text.
2. If Balaam knew the Lord and went to paradise upon his death, then he would see the Lord there and be brought out at the Lord’s resurrection.
3. If Balaam did not know the Lord, then he will see Him at the Great White Throne judgment.
2. The Star Out of Jacob
1. The Star
1. This is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus Christ as a star.
1. The day star (2 Peter 1:19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
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2. The bright and morning star (Revelation 22:16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
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3. The dayspring
1. The spring of the day or the morning
2. Mentioned in Job (Job 38:12-15 [12] Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; [13] That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? [14] It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. [15] And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
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3. Prophesied by Zacharias at the birth of John (Luke 1:57-80 [57] Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. [58] And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. [59] And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. [60] And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. [61] And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. [62] And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. [63] And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. [64] And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. [65] And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. [66] And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. [67] And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, [68] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, [69] And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; [70] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: [71] That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; [72] To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; [73] The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, [74] That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, [75] In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. [76] And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; [77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, [78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, [79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. [80] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
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4. Note:  These references to Christ as a star are almost certainly pointing to the sun which is the bright and morning star.
2. The sun’s connection to the coming of Christ (excerpts pulled from Pastor Reagan’s sermon on the Second Coming of Christ)
1. The sign of the Son of man
1. A special sign called “the sign of the Son of man in heaven” immediately precedes His coming in power and great glory (Matthew 24:30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
   See All...). By nature, this sign must be different that the other signs which mark the tribulation.
2. The identity of the Son of man
1. By name (Revelation 1:13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
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2. By countenance (Revelation 1:16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
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3. This fits in with Malachi 4:1-3 [1] For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
   See All... where Christ will come to those who fear His name as the “Sun of righteousness.” This day shall burn as an oven and shall burn up all who do wickedly (Malachi 4:1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
   See All...). Also, at this time, the saints shall tread down the wicked (Malachi 4:3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
   See All...). The events perfectly fit the battle of Armageddon.
2. The literal sun at the coming slaughter (Isaiah 30:25-33 [25] And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. [26] Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. [27] Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: [28] And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. [29] Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. [30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. [31] For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. [32] And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. [33] For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
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1. “The day of the great slaughter” (Isaiah 30:25And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
   See All...). This matches “the supper of the great God” (Revelation 19:17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
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2. At this time, there is a sign in the heaven (Isaiah 30:26Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
   See All...).
1. The moon becomes as bright as the sun.
2. The light of the sun is sevenfold.
3. The wicked of the earth will be destroyed with the burning of God’s anger (Isaiah 30:27Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
   See All..., 30).
4. Compare Revelation 16:8-9 [8] And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. [9] And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
   See All..., where the sun is given power to scorch men with fire.
5. Consider the following:
1. The sun burning seven times brighter is different than the sun being darkened.
2. Though we do not know how to measure seven times the brightness God’s way, mankind could certainly not last long under these circumstances. So, it must be a short event.
3. How better to indicate the coming of the Sun of righteousness than with the brightening of the physical sun?
4. Even with all this evidence, we must still admit that we may not know for sure the identity of the sign of the coming of the Son of man. But we can know that His coming is connected to the brightening of the sun.
3. The Sceptre Out of Israel
1. The sceptre is connected to a king and a kingdom.
2. The sceptre of the Lord
1. A kingdom that lasts forever (Psalm 45:6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
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2. Prophesied to the Son (Hebrews 1:8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
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3. Jesus Christ as the King
1. Prophesied to come forth out of Judah (Genesis 49:10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
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2. King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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3. King of Kings (Revelation 19:16-17 [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. [17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
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4. The Wise Men from the East (Matthew 2:1-2 [1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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1. How did they know?
1. Two prophecies
1. Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:20-26 [20] And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; [21] Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. [22] And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. [23] At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. [24] Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [26] And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
   See All...) – provided timing
2. Balaam’s prophecy (Numbers 24:17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
   See All...) – provided information concerning the person
2. The location of these prophecies
1. Daniel’s prophecy came in Babylon (Daniel 1:1-6 [1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. [2] And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. [3] And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; [4] Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. [5] And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. [6] Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
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2. Balaam’s prophecy came on the eastern side of Jordan and he was a prophet from Mesopotamia (Deuteronomy 23:4Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
   See All...).
3. Both of these prophecies were provided and known in the eastern world.
2. Why did they come?
1. To worship the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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2. To worship their King (Numbers 24:17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
   See All...)
3. What did they bring?
1. Gold
1. A type of royalty (Psalm 21:1-3 [1] The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! [2] Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. [3] For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
   See All...; Revelation 14:14And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
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2. A picture of the royal birth of the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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2. Frankincense
1. A type of prayer (Revelation 8:3-4 [3] And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. [4] And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
   See All...; Psalm 141:2Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
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2. A priestly gift
3. Myrrh
1. A type of suffering and death (Mark 15:23And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
   See All...; John 19:39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
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2. A picture of the sacrificial death of Christ
3. I do not know for sure, but perhaps these men from the east understood about the death of this King because of Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:20-26 [20] And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; [21] Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. [22] And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. [23] At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. [24] Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [26] And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
   See All...).