My Lament
November 20, 2020
It remains appalling to me that, after four decades since the major breakthroughs I had in analyzing and decoding the Book of Isaiah’s literary features, how little interest has been shown in these discoveries by the general membership of the Church. The many thousands who today understand the depth and magnitude of Isaiah’s message as a result of the literary tools I provide comprise relatively few in comparison to the whole. But isn’t that a reflection of the very endtime condition Isaiah speaks of, when there would occur wholesale falling away because only a solid grounding in God’s truth could make people unshakable?
After all of academia’s attempts to penetrate Isaiah’s message, the books published, articles written, and symposia conducted, what have been their fruits? Where has been the excitement of uncovering Isaiah’s “good news”—the fulness of the gospel of Messiah—far more profound than we imagined, and Isaiah’s all-inclusive scenario of the end of the world that precedes our Savior’s coming in glory? Who are they whose expositions Isaiah compares to mere “sparks” because their authors seek not God’s glory but their own, their academic institutions having set them up to gain worldly honors, college tenure, and notoriety?
Nor does it help that much of the ministerial institution relies on these “wise and learned” for their understanding of Isaiah’s words—as if they were subject to their approval and weren’t God’s-given key to these changing times. The proliferation of “precepts of men” that come from proof-texting instead of analyzing what Isaiah’s words actually say, have so increased people’s confusion that to disabuse our minds of what isn’t scripturally grounded has become a huge challenge in itself. Indeed, commentary on Isaiah’s words is sadly lacking, and where it occurs it often repeats those same “precepts of men” that Isaiah laments.
On the other side of the spectrum are those bloggers and opportunists who expropriate and plagiarize my discoveries of many years and present them as if they are their own. Getting on the Isaiah bandwagon but without the depth of research required to teach his words, they superimpose their deviations from what can in reality be supported scripturally. Both extremes are grounded in proof-texting for personal ends—wresting the scripture to “prove” a doctrine, opinion, or interpretation. As the Holy Spirit can’t testify to the truth of a “precept of men,” this compounds people’s confusion, making them vulnerable to being led astray.
I don’t claim to know everything about the words of Isaiah. But I know that the things I have discovered by using different methods of literary analysis that support one another—structural, typological, and rhetorical—are true and can be verified by anyone who pays the price of applying the literary tools I provide. Many who have utilized these keys testify of this. It simply requires personal effort and commitment to understand the words of Isaiah in that manner before one can pass judgment on whether these keys work. My prayer is that many will undertake this scriptural journey, even if to try to prove the results wrong.
Posted in Notes on Isaiah
I was so thrilled to finally have answers and enlightenment concerning Isaiah that I have read and reread and analyzed and cross referenced almost all of Avraham’s published books. When I get done rereading a book I can’t help but reread it again, or listen to it. Naturally I want to share my findings and bounce questions off others. There lies the rub. Some tell me they love Isaiah and change the subject. Others roll their eyes back and smile.
After reading and listening together with my wife we decided to send packages of The Isaiah translation and either Isaiah Decoded or Windows on Isaiah to ALL of our family and friends. 3, 4 or 5 each month.
We are seeing some become as excited as we are. Others may follow suit or may not. At least now we have others to to share thoughts and insights with. Some we send an Audible selection, some a Kindle version, whatever the Spirit directs. Most get the book with the translation and a study help.
Be assured Avraham that the Spirit and your work is waking many up.
Thanks for the YouTube videos, seminars, and the assume resources at Isaiahinstitute.com and Isaiahexplained.com.
Your work has changed my life and is making a difference.
I think the main problem is that most church members are simply unaware of Bro Gileadi and has outstanding work. I tell people to look up his website or read his books, but I don’t think many do.
I’ll carry on doing my best to highlight our need to comprehend Isaiah’s relevance to us in our day.
Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
It may be out of context, but I think it applies to us today. I am grateful for your work.
I am truly grateful for your work. You have been given a gift by God! My brain can barely handle these things so it takes me a long time to go over them again and again.
Thank you so much
Studying Isaiah, using your books and breakthroughs, has not only opened up the Book of Isaiah for me but also given me insight and background for all scripture. I am deeply grateful to have found you and your work in Isaiah and appreciate the many years of devotion and study on your behalf. I also am sad that others in the Church do not follow the commandment to study Isaiah and are missing out on the joy and fulfillment that it brings to your spiritual life. Thank you so much Bro. Gileadi – your work has profoundly changed my life.
I deeply appreciate your labors in bringing understanding of Isaiah to me. I do believe the day will come when people will thirst for an understanding of Isaiah. A shocking number of Latter-day Saints appear to be asleep. My husband and I are regular temple attenders and we also work in the temple in Orlando Florida. We attended the last session before closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I expected the session to be full. I was shocked that there were less than 12 people total. The Temple was quiet. I wonder if we aren’t under some kind of condemnation from the Lord. Thank you for all you do!!
I also have issues with this. No one seems to want to explore, everyone seems to be on edge regarding doctrine and ideas. As soon as there is a little cognitive dissonance, everyone clams up.
But I think I understand what it is. On the one had, we know that we need to follow the Prophet, it is part of showing our loyalty to the Lord. This is what is ingrained in us since Primary (the song “Follow the Prophet”). We have therefore (whether rightly or wrongly) identified sources of information as “being from the Prophet”, and we (collectively) cling to those.
Church publications, stuff from BYU (it belongs the Church, so it must be truth, right?), General Conference talks, etc. are considered approved sources.
On the other hand, we each have our own gift of the Holy Ghost. This is where the fear and trembling come it. What if we receive new information that appears right, tastes good, and increases our knowledge and understanding and opens doors for us and it appears contrary (or at least it isn’t being taught) to anything from the Church? Quelle Conundrum.
If I give a talk, and I cite sources from General Authorities, or scholars at BYU, it will be well received.
But if I stray from that, and quote things that are true, but the citation comes from an unknown source, an awkward feeling enters the room.
The bottom line here is that this problem may be self-inflicted. We have beat the drum “Follow the Prophet” so hard what we perhaps have diminished the enthusiasm to step out and see what is available to us. We either don’t trust our selves or haven’t really learned how to find and understand truth. The excitement and enthusiasm of learning something new is dampened with “that didn’t come from the Church, you better be careful, you might fall”.
If we are so discouraged from experimentation (Alma 32) how are we supposed to learn?
The line feels delicate to me still. I find myself still striving to get into the groove such that I am being diligent and dedicated, but not over zealous.
Love what you are doing here Avraham, thank you for being who you are. Can’t thank you enough for shining the light on some of these things.
Kevin
I think Kevin is right on. It is very comforting for the carnal man to assume that all we need to know about the Gospel will be taught to us by the prophet or be taught in church. If it is not taught in church, they conclude we don’t need to know it. It is not necessary for our spiritual or temporal salvation.
If one really understands the scriptures, God teaches that we are supposed to be born again and then receive The Holy Ghost and feast upon the word of Christ. We are supposed to receive the Holy Ghost and press forward in faith feasting on the word of Christ. This is the strait and narrow path (2nd Nephi 31:14, 17-20). Nephi tells us the Holy Ghost will tell us all things what we should do (2nd Nephi 32:3, see also John 14:26). Jesus told the disciples that he must go away but he would send the comforter who could minister to them on a personal basis.
So it is false doctrine that the prophet will teach us all we need to know. Instead we are supposed to feast upon the words of Christ through scriptures, personal revelation through the Holy Ghost, and occasionally we may get Christ’s word through the prophet.
On problem with believing that the prophet will teach us all we need to know is that any man is very limited. We all have blind spots. One of the great truths taught by Isaiah is that in the end times some prophets will be blind:
7 These too have indulged in wine and are giddy with strong drink:
priests and prophets have gone astray through liquor.
They are intoxicated with wine and stagger because of strong drink;
they err as seers, they blunder in their decisions.
8 For all tables are filled with vomit; no spot is without excrement.
Isaiah 28: 7-8
10 Their watchmen are altogether blind and unaware;
all of them are but dumb watchdogs unable to bark, lolling seers fond of slumber.
11 Gluttonous dogs, and insatiable, such indeed are insensible shepherds.
They are all diverted to their own way, every one after his own advantage.
12 Come, they say, let us get wine and have our fill of liquor.
For tomorrow will be like today, only far better!
Isaiah 56:10-12
Because of this, God has to send the latter-day servant, a seer who will correct errant beliefs,
16 Therefore, thus says my Lord Jehovah: I lay in Zion a stone, a keystone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. They who believe it will not do rashly.
Isaiah 28:16
Another problem with reliance on any man, including the prophet, is that a single person cannot be everywhere with everyone. If we assume the prophet is our primary source, we are placing the burden on the prophet that Jesus taught should be performed by the Holy Ghost (John 14: 16-17, 26). The Holy Ghost can be with every believer 24 hours a day. The prophet in comparison cannot do that. In fact Jesus said it was better for Jesus to leave so he could send the Holy Ghost.
To understand this doctrine is not anti-prophet or anti church. It is pro Christ and pro Holy Ghost. But too many members of the church are possessed by a spirit of spiritual blindness, so they do not see this truth. They think you are attacking the prophet or church if you speak these truths. They would rather believe that all is well in Zion.
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!
2 Nephi 28:25-26
To rely on any man is to rely on the arm of flesh, which Nephi tells us leads us to be cursed:
31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.
2 Nephi 28:31
Nephi is not alone. Jeremiah also says a person is cursed who trust in man and makes flesh his arm:
5Thus says the LORD:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart departs from the LORD.
6For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes,
but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
– Jeremiah 17:5-6
In summary both Nephi and Jesus taught that we are to rely on the Holy Ghost. Getting guidance from a prophet can be a help, but it is occasional and limited. The Holy Ghost does not have these limitations.
You should not feel discouraged. Many of us read his books. I am conducting a study with several people in my country, all LDS members. And I use one of your books as a textbook. I think that the main problem is that many of our brethren have not understood 3N 23:1-4. MMC