Obadiah 15-18--The Day of the LORD Is Near

Obadiah 15-18
English Standard Version

The Day of the LORD Is Near
15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
    your deeds shall return on your own head.
16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,
    so all the nations shall drink continually;
they shall drink and swallow,
    and shall be as though they had never been.
17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,
    and it shall be holy,
and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
    and the house of Joseph a flame,
    and the house of Esau stubble;
they shall burn them and consume them,
    and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,
for the LORD has spoken.

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The Day of the LORD usually refers to the day of judgment for the wicked in the distant future, but it can sometimes refer to any day of reckoning when the LORD's wrath is poured out on a people or individual (specifically Jesus on the cross).  This prophecy says that those who desired to destroy the people of God will themselves be destroyed.  Those who wished to take their land will have their land taken away from them.  Those who wished to defile the holy places and destroy the LORD's temple will have their holy places defiled and their temples and idols will be destroyed.

Those who belong to the LORD will be saved though.  They will be brought safely through the judgment on the Day of the LORD just like with Noah's Ark and Passover, and Purim.  The righteous will be saved and the wicked will be destroyed.  However, the rebellious and wicked of Israel will be destroyed.  Edom will be destroyed and be made a picture of the eternal judgment faced by all the wicked.  This is the judgment of the LORD.