Edom was the name given to Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, after he sold his birthright (Genesis 25:30-34). The name was applied both to the people descended from him and to the country in which they settled (Genesis 36:1; Numbers 20:18-21; Jeremiah 49:17).
The name “Edom” is frequently used by the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) and by the Revelator as a symbol of “professed” Christians, “Christendom” (the so-called Christian world), and of “Babylon” (Revelation 14:8; 18:2,3). These are Christians in name only. They have similarly sold their birthright as Esau did for something as trifling as the bowl of stew. These have preferred present earthly advantages above all the blessings of communion and fellowship with their Lord Jesus. True Christians faithfully follow in Jesus’ footsteps of sacrifice as Jesus taught: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” Matthew 16:24. (Also see: 1 Peter 2:21; Philippians 3:8-10; Romans 12:1,2) Only a few Christians have made proper use of being blessed with the word of God. These by their godly examples have been “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) showing men the way back to God and righteousness.
While all the land of Edom symbolized all of Christendom, so its capital city Bozrah represented “ecclesiasticism,” the chief fortress of Christendom. Both the ecclesiastical powers of Christendom and the earth (the social organization under church and state influence – “the Mount of Esau”) are reserved unto “fire” (symbolizing trouble, judgment). The book of Obadiah is a prophecy regarding the retributive justice upon all of Christendom. The “Christian” nations shall reap the LORD's anger for persecuting faithful Christians and Jews (still the people of promise). (Obadiah 1:8, 9; Ezekiel 25:13,14)
The prophet represents the LORD as a victorious warrior who makes a great slaughter in Edom, especially in Bozrah. (Isaiah 34:6,8) The reply to the Prophet's inquiry, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?” is, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isaiah 63:1-4) This is the same mighty one described in the book of Revelation, the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” Jehovah's Anointed, our highly exalted Redeemer and Lord, Jesus. (Revelation 19:11-16; Philippians 2:9-11)
Christendom (“Edom”), after being thoroughly destroyed, will be replaced by "a new heavens”—a new spiritual government made up of Jesus and his faithful church (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12), and “a new earth”—human society reorganized under God's kingdom arrangements. Christ will reign on a basis of justice, love, obedience, and righteousness instead of selfishness. (Isaiah 26:9; Revelation 21:1-4)
