Shiloh

Genesis 49 records the last words of Jacob, words that are loaded with prophetic insight. In verse one, we come to a very important phrase: "in the last days" (Gen.49:1). This is the first time this important phrase occurs in Scripture. This phrase in verse one qualifies for what is known as "The Law of First Mention". The first time any subject is introduced in the Bible, it is of special significance, and the Bible student needs to sit up and take notice. The Holy Spirit gives the clue there to the place and significance of that subject as it relates to the whole Bible. For example, in Genesis 22:2 we have the first mention of the word "love". This speaks of the love of the father for the son. The second time the word "love" is used is found in Genesis 24:67 where "Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her." This speaks of the son's love for his bride. Put these two together and you have the love of the Father for His Son and the love the Son, the Lord Jesus, has for His Bride the Church.

Here, in Genesis 49:1, we have the first mention of "last days" and it is used in conjunction with the sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel. This gives us a dispensational clue. The term "last days" or "latter days" is used fourteen times in the Old Testament, and it's concerned with the last days of Israel, not the church. The last days of Israel will be different from the last days of the church. Jacob is talking about the last days of the nation Israel and what is going to happen to them. He begins a march down through the centuries of Israel's history right into the future Millennial Kingdom. Each son represents a period of their history along the way. For more on this see John Phillips work "Exploring the Future".

For a final thought look at Genesis 49:10. History tells us that in AD 7, the high priest put on sackcloth and ashes and marched in the streets of Jerusalem wailing and crying out in despair. Why? Because the government of Rome had just taken away their right of 'capital punishment' -the rule of the law-their political sovereignty. No more could they stone anyone for serious offenses as prescibed in the Mosaic Law. They had lost their political sovereignty and "Shiloh (Messiah) hadn't come, (so he thought). Little did he know that at that very time, up in Nazareth, was a boy of 9 or 10 years old named Jesus. Shiloh had come. And He shall come again! Praise God! Come quickly Lord Jesus! Rev.22:20.