Edom, Moab, & Ammon During the End Times

The fate of Moab, Ammon, and Edom is an end time Bible prophecy topic that a lot of people tend to overlook.

Moab, Ammon, and Edom, located in Jordan, will have an important role to play in the future. In this article, I will give an overview of what will happen to Moab, Ammon, and Edom during the end times.

A Place of Refuge

The Antichrist will attack many places in the Mideast. However, Daniel 11:41 suggests that the Edom, Moab, and Ammon will escape the worst of his attacks:

“He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.” (Daniel 11:41)

Edom, Moab, and Ammon will escape the Antichrist’s attack because there will be some from Israel who will seek refuge at these locations.

Revelation 12 describes a woman (the remnant of Israel) finding refuge in an area that corresponds to Edom, Moab, and Ammon. The refugees will find safety from the dragon’s (Satan’s) attack:

“(13) And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. (14) And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (15) And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. (16) And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” (Revelation 12:13-16)

The Gentiles Attack Edom

Despite being spared by the Antichrist, Edom will be attacked by another Gentile force (unaffiliated with Antichrist) near the end of the tribulation.

Obadiah describes the attack where Edom’s allies will betray them:

“(1) The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. (2) Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. […] (7) All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.” (Obadiah 1:1-2, 7)

Interestingly, Psalm 83:6-8 links Edom to an alliance of nations in Psalm 83:6-8. The thrust of the Psalm 83 attack is against the “hidden ones”, who I believe are a remnant of Israel seeking refuge.

• Perhaps the betrayal of Edom will occur during the events of Psalm 83…

Israel Attacks

Israel vs Edom, Moab, and Ammon

The Bible indicates that Israel will destroy Edom, Moab, and Ammon in the future.

Numbers 24:17-19 is a Messianic prophecy that predicts that the Messiah (Christ) will lead Israel’s effort to destroy Moab and take over Edom:

“(17) I 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. (18) And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. (19) Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.” (Numbers 24:17-19)

Similarly, Zephaniah 2:8-9 promises that God will destroy Moab and Ammon and that the remnant of Israel will take over their lands in the future:

“(8) I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. (9) Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.” (Zephaniah 2:8-9)

There’s no doubt that Edom, Moab, and Ammon will be dealt with harshly in the future. However, a key question is “when will Israel deal with Edom, Moab, and Ammon?”

When Will Israel Attack?

The search for an answer begins with Ezekiel 35. Ezekiel 35:9, 14-15 pinpoints the ultimate destruction of Edom at the time when the “whole earth rejoiceth”.

“(9) I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD… (14) Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate. (15) As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 35:9, 14-15)

I searched all over the Bible for a passage that hints at the specific time when the world will rejoice. If we can find the time when the “whole earth rejoiceth” we will know when Edom, Moab, and Ammon will meet their demise.

Isaiah 14:5-8

Isaiah 14:5-8 suggests that the whole earth will “break forth into singing” or rejoice after the “Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers”:

“(5) The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. (6) He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. (7) The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. (8) Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.” (Isaiah 14:5-8)

In other words, the world will rejoice after evil’s defeat at the events of Armageddon. The Edomites, the Ammonites, and the Moabites won’t rejoice since the remnant of Israel will destroy them.

Ezekiel 39:10

Ezekiel 39:10 also indicates that Israel will deal with Moab, Ammon, and Edom after the events of Armageddon.

• The verse tells us that Israel will “spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them” as they clean up the land after Armageddon.

“(8) Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. (9) And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: (10) So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 39:8-10)

Isaiah 11:14

Finally, Isaiah 11:14, which is part of a passage relating to the post-Armageddon period, mentions that Israel shall spoil those located east of them: Edom, Moab, and Ammon:

“But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” (Isaiah 11:14)

Other verses or chapters that likely deal with the destruction of Edom, Moab, and/or Ammon include:

• Isaiah 63:1-6
• Habakkuk 3
• Joel 3:19
• Isaiah 34:6-17
• Jeremiah 25
• Lamentations 4:22
• Jeremiah 49:1-6
• Ezekiel 25

Israel vs. the Philistines

Isaiah 11:14 tells us that Israel shall “fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines”:

“But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” (Isaiah 11:14)

What does “Fly upon the shoulders” mean? Habakkuk 1:18 and other verses may help us understand what it means.

Habakkuk 1:18 describes an aggressor flying upon its enemies like an eagle who swoops down to consume its prey:

“Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.” (Habakkuk 1:8)

Similarly, Jeremiah 48:40 and Jeremiah 49:22 describe an aggressor flying like an eagle to destroy Edom and Moab:

“For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.” (Jeremiah 48:40)

“Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.” (Jeremiah 49:22)

With these verses in mind, “fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines” likely means that Israel will overwhelm the Philistines with military force. This leads to a key question:

• “Will Israel attack the Philistines at the same time they attack the Ammonites, the Edomites, and the Moabites?

Falling Together

The Bible indicates that Israel will attack the Philistines at the same time they attack Ammon, Edom, and Moab.

For instance, Isaiah 11:14’s grouping of the Philistines with Ammon, Edom, and Moab suggests that these nations may fall at the same time:

“But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” (Isaiah 11:14)

Also, Obadiah 1:19 suggests that Israel will possess the “plain of the Philistines” at the same time they will possess the mount of Esau, which is in Bozrah (Edom):

“And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.” (Obadiah 1:19)

Zephaniah 2 also describes the remnant of Israel taking possession of the land of the Philistines:

“(5) Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. (6) And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. (7) And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” (Zephaniah 2:5-7)

Similarly, the land of the Philistines is grouped with Moab and Edom in a Psalms passage where the Lord describes His dominance over these peoples:

“(6) God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. (7) Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; (8) Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.” (Psalm 60:6-8)

Finally, other verses or chapters that relate the Philistines’ demise to the demise of the Ammonites, Edomites, and/or Moabites are:

• Zephaniah 2
• Ezekiel 25
• Amos 1
• Amos 2

Conclusion

Edom, Moab, and Ammon will serve as a relatively safe place for some to hide at during the tribulation. However, these locations will not be immune to God’s judgment. Israel will devastate these areas after the events of Armageddon.