Synchronous holistic structures in the Book of Isaiah allow us to read Isaiah’s writings in their entirety as foreshadowing an endtime scenario. In that case, the events that occurred in Isaiah’s day act as an allegory of the endtime. So it is with “my servant Eliakim,” who displaces Shebna, another servant who entertains ideas of […]
“My Servant Eliakim”—A Nail in a Sure Place Read More »
The Sinai Covenant—God’s covenant with his people Israel as a nation—although a conditional covenant (whose blessings and privileges depend on whether his people keep the terms of the covenant), was never done away, even when Israel transgressed and ultimately apostatized. Today, the Sinai Covenant still forms the basis on which a nation may become God’s
The Sinai Covenant Operates in the Endtime Read More »
Isaiah’s prophetic ministry begins in 742 B.C. at Jehovah’s appearance to him in the temple. Jehovah forewarns him, however, that his people’s reception of him won’t be favorable (Isaiah 6:1–13). Isaiah nevertheless faithfully performs his role as Jehovah’s oracle. As was the custom, his early prophecies are likely spoken inside the gates of Jerusalem or
Forty Years of Isaiah’s Ministry as a Prophet Read More »
Many people down the ages have led religious lives that couldn’t necessarily be called spiritual, though they may have mistaken one for the other. When spirituality becomes hypocrisy, God springs a surprise that separates the true from the false: “My Lord says, ‘Because these people approach me with the mouth and pay me homage with
A Difference between Religious and Spiritual Read More »
Believers in the scriptures understand that the world will be destroyed and cleansed of the wicked before Jehovah’s coming to reign on the earth. But do they know what precipitates such destruction? Patterns from the past tell us what to look for that will signal the commencement of God’s endtime judgments. Paul draws on the
God’s People—Catalyst of God’s Judgments Read More »
A hard fact of Isaiah’s endtime scenario is that it isn’t those who appear to be God’s people whom God saves in the end but those who are rejected by the majority. These “outcasts” suffer “reproach” and “ridicule,” are “excluded” from God’s people, and, like God’s servant who gathers them, are “despised” and “abhorred” until
The Gathering of Israel’s Outcasts from Exile Read More »
From Richard: A person in my study group is having a little problem wrapping their mind around the term “proxy saviors.” It does appear to be a unique term as I’m not really able to find that exact term elsewhere. I realize that spiritual salvation is only from Jehovah or the Lord. So, does the term “proxy salvation” only
What Does the Term “Proxy Savior” Mean? Read More »
Built into Isaiah’s prophecy—and indeed into all scripture—are two different ways one may interpret them. The first is superficial, presumptive, and conceited. The second is in-depth, inquiring, and unassuming. That is one way God divides people—“rendering void the knowledge of their sages and the intelligence of their wise men insignificant” (Isaiah 29:14)—when the truth finally
Reading in Context—An Interpretive Principle Read More »
What sets the Book of Isaiah apart from all other prophetic writings is its all-inclusiveness in depicting an endtime scenario. Even more comprehensive in portraying the end of the world than apocalyptic writings such as Daniel and Revelation, it spells out a great confluence of events humanity is about to experience. Using Israel’s ancient history
The Book of Isaiah—Blueprint of Our Time Read More »
Isaiah characterizes the cyclical rebirth of persons who ascend to higher spiritual levels as God’s “creating” or “forming” them each time they ascend. His definition of God’s creation, in other words, is that of re-creation. Even God’s creation of the heavens and the earth are a re-ordering of existing materials: “Who measured out the waters
Rebirth as Re-creation, Ruin as De-creation Read More »
A divisive spirit among Israel’s twelve tribes extends back to Jacob’s twelve sons themselves, particularly in their hatred of Joseph and their desire to kill him, although Judah persuades them to sell him (Genesis 37). Disputes among the tribes arise in the era of Israel’s judges, as when the prideful Ephraimites balk at Gideon’s miraculous
The Divided Kingdom—A National Tragedy Read More »
God has reserved the prophecy of Isaiah for the express purpose of guiding endtime believers through the perils posed by the events of their day. It proves a lot easier to negotiate challenges when you know who the players are and what their game plan is. Isaiah saw it and wrote it down: Isaiah 30:8Go
God is speaking to us today through the prophecy of Isaiah! Read More »
