Isaiah Post 48, Genesis Post 1 - Building a Bridge With ET

I have been pondering how to wrap up the book of Isaiah, having just finished my final post on chapter 66 a few days ago.

Funny, I didn't plan for 48 posts.  It just happened that way.  Forty-eight is a very special number.  If you do the biblical math, you will discover that Abraham was born in the year 1948 from creation.  And modern Israel was born in the Roman year 1948, fulfilling the nation's rebirth as foretold in Isaiah 66.

So today's post will wrap up with what I hope will be a bridge to Genesis.  I am also hoping this post comes across with clarity, because today's subject is just SO BIG!!

Deep breath... here goes:

Three times in Isaiah, YHVH - God Himself - is referred to as the First and the Last.  Isaiah 48:12-13 links this idea to the creation of the world.  It is a term that means the whole story.

“Listen to Me, O Jacob,
And Israel, My called:
I am He, I am the First,
I am also the Last.

Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth,
And My right hand has stretched out the heavens;
When I call to them,
They stand up together.

While I was studying the first and last connection to creation in the Hebrew scriptures, I found evidence of this concept hiding in plain sight - right in the very first sentence of Genesis.

Genesis 1:1 is comprised of seven Hebrew words.  This doesn't surprise me.  Scripture uses this number often, and it means completeness.  Here is my transliteration of Genesis 1:1, with definitions:

Beresheet – in the beginning

Bara – created (from nothing, not formed with already-created elements)

Elohim – God (plural word, unity in a diversity)

Et – unstranslatable as a word, but lends to understanding in the grammar (we’ll come back to this)

Hashamayim – the heavens

Ve-et – and/a connector (there is that et again)

Haaretz - the land/earth

Now those seven words give us a picture of completeness on their own, being that the number seven is one of God's favorite ways of showing completeness.  But take a look at that untranslated word et, right there in the very middle, spelled alef tav - the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Et has been a word that stumped the ancient scholars of the Hebrew scriptures.  The word is peppered throughout the Tanakh (aka old testament) over 7000 times! The ancient scholars were not clear on what to do with this word.  Our English translations simply don't translate it. It is hidden.

The word et expresses the understanding of a total and all-encompassing completeness. It is equivalent to saying "from  a to z, from first to last, from beginning to end.

Additionally, the word et appears many times paired with objects or names of biblical characters, as a hyphenated compound word.  However, in such cases it is hidden and continues un-translated.  Here are several examples of the appearance of et:

• In the book of Ruth, her name appears twelve times.  The first 10 appearances are just her name by itself - Ruth.  But the last two mentions are hyphenated thusly:  Et-Ruth.    It appears this way only after she is redeemed by Boaz.  You cannot see this in any of the English translations.
• The name Esau appears numerous times as Et-Esau, but only until he gives up his birthright.  After that, his name only appears alone.  Again, it is hidden in the English, and not really understood in the Hebrew.
• The word appears right in the center of the shema - the Jewish statement of faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5.  Love et the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and might.
• Et appears in the middle of one of my favorite scriptures that foretell of the salvation of Israel:  Zechariah 12:10:  They will look upon Me et whom they have pierced. (I will come back to this)
• Et appears in numerous places that speak of the destruction of Sodom.  See Genesis 13:10, Genesis 19:14, Isaiah 13:19, Jeremiah 50:40, and Amos 4:11. 
• The only one of the ten commandments to feature et is the fourth one, on keeping the Sabbath, which was the covenant sign  at Mount Sinai. 

Et appears to be a covenant word.  A hidden signature of the Messiah, so to speak.

The ancient alef was an ox head representing the strong leader,
and a powerful symbol of God Himself. 
The ancient tav was a cross.
What a powerful picture of what our God has done for us!
(Hebrew reads from right to left)

Where does this word et show up in Isaiah?  Verse 1:4 tells us that they have et (completely) forsaken the LORD.  Remember, Isaiah started out with a bunch of bad news.  The next occurrence is in Isaiah 6:1, in the vision that sets the stage for the rest of Isaiah’s prophecies.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled et the temple.

On the very day that I was pondering this concept (and not really getting the clarity that I wanted), I opened my daily devotional that I get from George Whitten, a pastor who lives in Israel.  Here is what he wrote.  (Seriously, only God can orchestrate this).  The devotional is in blue:

Friend, trust him to complete what he started!

Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
(B're'shiyt bara Elohim 'et (Aleph - Tav) hashamyim v'et ha'aretz.)

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. (I'd been looking for this verse!)

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Rev 21:6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

The Bible begins with the creation of the heavens and earth, and ends with the creation of a new heavens and a new earth. Thus the Word of God delineates a complete story of everything from the beginning of the created world to the unending eternity toward which we are headed. The scripture also identifies Yeshua as the firstborn over all creation, [Colossians 1:15] and thus the Lord of all time.

In the book of Genesis, the very first verse of the Bible contains the Hebrew word formed from the first and last letters of the alphabet, i.e. aleph-tav. Interestingly, this word is not translated, even though it serves a grammatical purpose as a preposition pointing to the direct object of the sentence. Aleph-tav, nevertheless, may carry an important, if somewhat hidden, meaning, as some commentators see in these Hebrew letters an agent of creation, Yeshua, the image of the invisible God by whom all things were created; [Colossians 1:15-16], the "Aleph and the Tav"...

This identity of our Lord is explicitly expressed in the book of Revelation, for the Bible concludes with the statement that Yeshua (Jesus) is the "Alpha and the Omega". Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. From the beginning to the end of the biblical narrative, then, we receive the revelation that, as the agent of Creation, Yeshua truly encompasses all that is, and as such, it is only in Him that we find our completeness; as the author of Hebrews declares, He truly is "the author and finisher of our faith; [Hebrews 12:2].

While we're here on earth we are still not completed but remain in the midst of a journey, begun in Him, and pressing, even groaning, toward the blessed hope, the resurrection of our earthly bodies when we will be truly complete. Yes, it is quite obvious -- He's not finished with us yet!

But the Alpha and Omega, in Whom resides all power and wisdom has not yet finished His good work in us. So be encouraged this day – for we can certainly trust the words of Paul when he said, "He that began a good work in you will bring it to completion" [Philippians 1:6], His very identity as Lord of all time and eternity, Aleph-Tav, and Alpha-Omega -- guarantees it!

I love how the mystery alef tav of the Hebrew Scriptures is revealed in Revelation, which the old testament era scholars did not yet have.  No wonder they were perplexed!

Revelation 1:7-8 says this:
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Compare this passage to Zechariah 12:1 that I mentioned earlier, in which et shows up in the middle of  they look upon Me et who they have pierced. The alef tav of the Tanakh IS the alpha omega of the New Covenant - the Messiah!

Yeshua calls himself the alpha and omega three more times in Revelation. One more time in chapter 1, and then twice near the end of the book, in chapters 21 and 22.  Revelation opens and closes with alpha and omega, and the entire scriptures open and close with this very same concept.

John 1:1 wraps up this concept nicely. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

The very signature of the Messiah runs from Genesis to the end of Revelation! He truly is on every page of our bibles.

Now that’s a great way to finish Isaiah and head into Genesis!

To move on in Genesis, click here.

If you would like to read all 48 posts on this walk through Isaiah, you may click here to start at the beginning.

Isaiah Post 47 - Wrapping Up with Fire (Chapter 66C)

My last post left off in Isaiah 66:14, which changed gears in the middle of the verse.  The verse began with the LORD knowing His people, and then switched to the LORD's indignation toward His enemies. Today, we begin with that change of theme.

Verses 15 and 16 open with the word behold (We just looked at this word in my last post. It means Hey! Pay attention!). 

For behold, the LORD will come with fire

And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, 

To render His anger with fury, 

And His rebuke with flames of fire.
For by fire and by His sword 

The LORD will judge all flesh; 

And the slain of the LORD shall be many.

What a vivid scene! Flames of fire everywhere! Biblically, fire means judgment.  Fire both purifies and destroys.  The world is about to be judged.  This is not a picture of a meek lamb.  Remember from my last post: Vengeance is mine, says the LORD.  

The Lord’s second coming will be magnificent for His people.  It will be terrible for His enemies.

Verse 17 warns us once again against idolatry.  God. Hates. Idolatry.  This warning is given over and over, throughout Isaiah and the whole Bible.

Verses 18-21 are written in Kingdom language:

“For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

I believe that in this section, we see an intertwining of Yeshua's first and second comings.  The sign that Isaiah mentions here is the Messiah, and the Gentiles are included throughout this passage. The reference to them who escape probably refers to the ones who survived the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD, and is also a look ahead to those who will survive the wrath of God at the end of Daniel’s 70th week.  In both cases, His glory will be declared throughout the world.

The end of this section reaffirms that the Gentiles will help bring the Jews back to the Land - to the holy mountain of Jerusalem - which is front and central in God's plan, and still holy today.  

Verse 22 continues:

“For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.

New heavens and new earth...  Hmm, where have we heard that before?  If you look on the last page of your bible, you will see that it takes place AFTER the thousand-year reign of the Messiah on earth. This is a covenantal promise that Israel will continue forever.  We Gentile believers who are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel are a part of this, together with Israel.

Look at the language of verse 23:

And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.

In this verse, time is described here in a totally Jewish way.  One new moon to another, one Shabbat to the next.  The millennium is a Jewish institution and we will be participating.  All mankind  WILL come and bow down before YHVH.  Every knee will bow, every tongue confess...

Isaiah could have ended here.  But no.  He continues with what many consider a strange ending, in verse 24:

“And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,

And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

More fire.  Let me take a moment and address the phrase about the worms and the fires.  A better rendering of the Hebrew says, where worms don’t die and fires aren’t extinguished.

In Mark 9:48, Yeshua quotes this verse. We see here a metaphor for death, destruction, and the grave. Yeshua was referring to Gehenna, which is one of three valleys in Jerusalem.  Gehenna (or Valley of the Sons of Hinnom) was notorious in biblical times.  It was a place burning with constant fires to consume the waste that was thrown there. The material burned there included everything from household trash to animal carcasses to convicted criminals.  Worms were always present along with the garbage.  

Gehenna had also been a terrible place of child sacrifice (see 2 Kings 23:10). It was a nasty place; a place of evil and total destruction. 

Jeremiah 7 confirms this:

 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere. And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away.

It is very interesting to note that today, Gehenna is not on fire. The west end of Gehenna is lush and green, and as you head around the bend toward the east, it becomes desolate.  Scripture often uses the ideas of west as a picture of blessing and east is a picture of cursing.) When Yeshua returns, I believe that Gehenna will be used once again as a place of destruction for those who have come against the Lord and His people.  The slain of the LORD, as verse 16 warned us at the beginning of this post.

The west end of Gehenna today

Yes, Isaiah 66:24 is a strange ending to the book.  However, the end of Revelation also includes some of these same warnings.

Rev 21:22-27

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Rev 22:12-17

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, (from Isaiah 62:11 and 40:10)  to give to every one according to his work.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Just as in Isaiah, the warnings to the wicked in Revelation are embedded in the blessings that await God’s people.  It is very sobering.  As I’ve said before, you want to be on the side of YHVH, and heed His word!

Mount of Blessing, Mount of Cursing.  Choose wisely.

As I am sitting here meditating on this post and getting ready to publish it, I keep coming back to the idea of fire.  I was reminded that the LORD once destroyed the earth with water (and promised not to do that again), and that He will eventually destroy the earth with fire before He renews it. For some reason, baptism comes to my mind.  John baptized with water, but the Holy Spirit baptizes with fire.  Another pattern of YHVH?  Food for thought.

My final post on Isaiah is ready!  Click here for the "post-game show."

To start at the beginning of this series on Isaiah, click here.

Isaiah Post 45 - The Temple and Our Hearts (Chapter 66A)

We have reached Isaiah chapter 66. Prepare for high drama. 

The LORD opens the chapter with a metaphor and a question in verse 1:

“Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?

The metaphor shows just how big and how absolutely sovereign God is.

Even though God is everywhere, His temple has been and will be physically rebuilt.  God doesn’t NEED a  temple, but He has man build them anyway.  His temple is a focal point for the world that points to Him.

In 1 Kings 8, we see King Solomon dedicating the temple that he built for the LORD.  Here are some excerpts from that passage:

And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

Then Solomon spoke: “The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.”

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

Here is one of my favorite parts:

“Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

Whenever Israel came back to the land, a temple was built.  The first temple was built under Solomon, the second temple under Ezra following the return from Babylon, and today there is a huge push for the third temple to be rebuilt.  Israel has had Jerusalem since 1967.  It’s time!  All the turmoil in Jerusalem hinges on this subject.  There was turmoil in Ezra’s time, too.  The locals fought tooth and nail to see that the temple would not be rebuilt  (You can read about it in Ezra 4).

I have orthodox Jewish friends who cut a chunk out of the walls in their main living space, about a cubit by a cubit (18"x18"). They do this because of Haggai 1:4, which says, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” (The context of that scripture is the rebuilding of the second temple under Zerubbabel)

A quick story about that:  Two Gentile friends of mine, twin brothers as a matter of fact, have cut the holes in their living spaces as well.  One of the twins asked an orthodox Jewish friend of his, "How many Christians do this?"  The friend looked them both in the eye and said he knew of two.  I wish I were brave enough to cut a hole in my living room wall.  One of these days...

In the New Covenant scriptures, Stephen quotes Isaiah 66:1 when speaking to the Sanhedrin.  What is this about?

Acts 6 beginning at verse 8 sets up the context.  The high priest and other Jewish leaders were triggered because they thought Stephen was changing their customs, and speaking blasphemy against Moses and God.  Here is the passage:

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;  for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

(Don’t be messing with our customs!  That makes people mad.)

Stephen goes on to give a very thorough history of the Jewish people – the call of Abraham, the patriarchs in Egypt, the deliverance via Moses, and Israel’s rebellion.  Stephen knew the scriptures well.

We pick back up in Acts 7:44-49:

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,  which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David,  who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.  But Solomon built Him a house.  “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,  Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?’

The high priest and all the rest of his cronies were enraged with Stephen.  They accused him of blasphemy and proceeded to stone him to death.  They also didn’t like him messing with their traditions.

Stoning of Stephen

They didn't like the truth that Stephen was trying to tell them:  In our current age, there is no physical temple because God Himself indwells believers through His Holy Spirit, which was poured out at Shavuot (Pentecost).

But that does not mean that there is no future place for a physical temple, because a new era is coming upon us soon.  God allowed the second temple to be destroyed toward the beginning of this current age we are living in - the era of the gospel going to the ends of the earth.  The destruction of the second temple happened in 70 AD; about 40 years after the Messiah was crucified and risen.

But guess what?  Israel is back in the land today.  And the scriptures say that when the Messiah comes again, there will be a temple in Jerusalem.

Ok, all that and we have covered one verse.  

Verse 2 continues:

For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,” Says the LORD.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.

The LORD confirms that He is LORD of all.  However, He esteems those who is poor in spirit, contrite, humble, and revere the Word of the Lord.  How does someone THAT BIG esteem us?  In Hebrew it actually says, who I will look at or turn My face to. 

His holy presence with us is simply mind boggling. Is He foreshadowing the day when our hearts would be the home and temple of His Holy Spirit in this present age?

Verses 3-4 then show us a contrast, demonstrating exactly what the LORD does NOT esteem:

Just as they have chosen their own ways, 

And their soul delights in their abominations,

So will I choose their delusions, 

And bring their fears on them; 

Because, when I called, no one answered, 

When I spoke they did not hear; 

But they did evil before My eyes, 

And chose that in which I do not delight.

Idolatry.  The Lord hates it.  It is the backbone of the first commandment.  He really hates idolatry.

Verse 5 then tells us,

Hear the word of the LORD, 

You who tremble at His word:  (Is that you?)

“Your brethren who hated you, 

Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said,
‘Let the LORD be glorified, 

That we may see your joy.’ 

But they shall be ashamed.”

You will be hated if you love the Lord, love His word, and if you support Israel.  Be prepared, and stick to His Word.  Press in, cling to the Lord, and don’t give up.  God haters also hate God’s people.  But as this verse promises. they will someday proclaim the Lord’s glory, and they will be ashamed.

To read the next post on this chapter, click here.

To begin at the first post on the book of Isaiah, click here.

Isaiah Post 46- Zion Reborn! (Chapter 66B)

My last post got us all the way through verse 5 of this final, glorious chapter of Isaiah.

Verse 6 continues vividly with a picture of our returning King Messiah:

The sound of noise from the city! 

 (literally the sound of ROARING in the Hebrew)

A voice from the temple!  

(There WILL be a temple.)

The voice of the Lord, 

Who fully repays His enemies!

Scripture clearly portrays Yeshua's second coming as time of wrath and vengeance on His enemies.

Deuteronomy 32:35 says:

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; 

Their foot shall slip in due time; 

For the day of their calamity is at hand, 

And the things to come hasten upon them.’  

Paul repeats this idea in Romans 12:

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord.                               

            

Friends, you want to be on the LORD’s side.  He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He is coming to save Israel, and based on what I've read in scripture, I believe He is bringing us with Him to Israel at some point soon after the great gathering of the elect.  Here are some verses that pull it together for me.

Matthew 24:29-31 says, 

Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days (that tells us when) the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  

1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, 

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

            

Zechariah 14:5 says,

Thus the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with Him.

            

And Revelation 19:14 tells us,

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

It seems clear to me that we WILL around during the great tribulation, and it is only at His return that we are rescued and brought with Him to Jerusalem.

Anyway, moving on to one of my favorite promises in the Word, starting with verse 7:

“Before she was in labor, she gave birth; 

Before her pain came, 

She delivered a male child.

Who is this talking about?   Revelation 12:1-2 says, Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.”

I have a Catholic friend who likes to say that this is a reference to the virgin Mary.  Indeed, there is a near/far prophecy here, referring to the birth of Messiah as well as His return.  But Isaiah continues, and leaves us no doubt…

Who has heard such a thing? 

Who has seen such things? 

(in other words, NO ONE! This is rhetorical) 

Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? 

Or shall a nation be born at once? 

For as soon as Zion was in labor,

She gave birth to her children.  

The passage answered its own question:  Zion.

Continuing on...

 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.   

  

Again, rhetorical - He will complete His work as promised.  To stop delivery would kill the mother.

(Older Christian commentaries didn’t really know what to do with these verses because of Replacement Theology.)

The labor was long, but the birth was quick.  Only one nation has ever come back and been restored after being scattered.  The UN took about one hour to vote on the modern state of Israel in November of 1947.  The whole world got together in New York City for this monumentous event.  The UN was only two years old when they voted. (Sadly, since that time, the UN has turned into a very anti-Israel entity)

We can now look back at that moment.  The impossible happened after centuries and centuries.  The Bible became front page news. We are living in these days! Most Christians who have lived in the past 2000 years didn’t get to experience this prophecy coming true.  When the time for God to favor Zion came about, things happened quickly. 

Psalm 102:13 says,

You will arise and have mercy on Zion; 

For the time to favor her, 

Yes, the set time, has come.

Isaiah continues in verse 10:

“Rejoice with Jerusalem, 

And be glad with her, all you who love her;      

Here we can see the fruit of the commanded prayer in Psalm 122:6...  
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

"May they prosper who love you.

If you have been faithful to pray this prayer, Isaiah is showing you that it WILL be answered!

By the way, that word for love – ahava – first shows up in Genesis at the near-sacrifice of Isaac.  Love and sacrifice go together.

Isaiah continues...

“Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; 
That you may feed and be satisfied 

With the consolation of her bosom 

That you may drink deeply and be delighted 

With the abundance of her glory.”

Do you know how I long for the salvation of Israel?  For the Messiah to come to Jerusalem and reveal himself to all of us? Oh, may He return soon!

 Remember 62:1?  

For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, 

And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, 

And her salvation as a lamp that burns.  

And 6-7?  

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; 

They shall never hold their peace day or night. 

You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 

And give Him no rest till He establishes 

And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

I will wrap up this post with verses 12-14:

For thus says the Lord:

“Behold, 

(an emphasis word – in other words,  get ready for what is about to be said!

I will extend peace (shalom) to her like a river, 

And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. 

            

Shalom is much more than the absence of conflict.  It is wholeness, completeness, safety, prosperity, contentment, and restoration stemming from the presence of the Lord.  Rivers of it!!

Then you shall feed; 

On her sides shall you be carried, 

And be dandled 

(to be taken delight in) 

on her knees. 

As one whom his mother comforts, 

So I will comfort you; 

And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

            

Here we are, back to the picture of mother and baby.  The word for comfort is Nahum.  The village where Yeshua did much of His teaching was Kfar Nahum (aka Capernaum), which means village of comfort.

Verse 14 continues:

When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, 

(There will be an explosion of joy)

And your bones shall flourish like grass;  

(the word flourish is the same root as peretz – remember that word? It means breaking out!) 

The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants,  And His indignation to His enemies.

That verb to know – it means far more than head knowledge.  It means to know intimately.  He is speaking to His followers.

Note the contrast in verse 14; the joyful explosion suddenly turns to His holy wrath. And that is where we will pick up on the next post, so click here to continue.

To read from the beginning of this series, click here.

Isaiah Post 44 The Kingdom Is Coming! - (Chapter 65)

Two more chapters!  I'm excited to wrap up one of my favorite books of the Bible.

I love how chapter 65 starts out:

I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; 
I was found by those who did not seek Me.

I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ 
To a nation that was not called by My name.

           
Only Israel as a people group was called by His name (Deuteronomy 28:10). But here, God is revealing Himself to people other than Israel.  This is us!

However, we see quite a contrast in verses 2-7. God stretched out His hands to His people Israel, but they committed abominations which led to punishment. 

But does He leave it at that?  No!

Verses 8-10 give us a another glimpse of the restoration of the remnant of Israel.  So far this chapter looks a lot like Romans 11 (similar to Isaiah 49).  His people, Israel, fell into sin and idolatry;  God reaches out to the nations; but then He comes back and redeems the remnant of Jacob.  God is not done with Israel.  Replacement Theology just does not hold up to the full counsel of scripture.

Isaiah returns to rebuke mode in verses 11-12.  Just as the previous verses were directed toward the future remnant of Israel, I believe these verses speak to those who will not return to YHVH.  (And sadly, they are probably not even reading these verses).

The next section, verses 13-14, portray a series of opposites. I believe we are seeing a picture of His servants in the Gentile church (that's us) during the blindness of Israel.

Therefore thus says the LORD God:
“Behold, My servants shall eat,
But you shall be hungry;
Behold, My servants shall drink,
But you shall be thirsty;
Behold, My servants shall rejoice,
But you shall be ashamed;
Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart,
But you shall cry for sorrow of heart,
And wail for grief of spirit.

Verse 15 continues with some astounding prophecy:

You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen;
For the LORD God will slay you,
And call His servants by another name;

I believe this is a prophecy of how the church will treat Israel during their blindness. The reason I believe this is because it happened! The church has treated the Jews very poorly for the past two millennia.  I recommend the book Our Hands are Stained With Blood, written by Michael Brown - a Messianic follower of Yeshua.  It retells the tragic story of persecution of the Jews, in the name of Jesus.

Read this and weep. 

The last phrase of verse 15 tells us that followers of Yeshua will be given a new name, and in fulfillment of this prophecy, it happened.

The term Christian was introduced in Acts 11:26. To put it in context, here is Acts 11:15-26 (Peter had just had his vision in Joppa and was told to bring the good news to the Gentiles):

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.  Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.  But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.  And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.  When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.  For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.  And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Christian was a new name, and some scholars believe it was originally a derogatory term.  Before that, believers had been called followers of the Way.  Today, many Jewish believers shy away from the term Christian.  Many Orthodox Jews write it out like this:  Xtian.  I see that term used by Jews online all the time.  Because of the prophecy here in Isaiah, Christianity became very offensive  - a stumbling block to Jews.  Jewish believers in Yeshua are thought by their families and friends to be traitors.  (Not if they become Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, etc.  Typically, those are all fine.  Only Christianity is a problem).

This is why ministry to Jews is generally so different than other people groups.  They do not care what you know until they know that you care.  And we have almost 2000 years of distrust to overcome.

Back to Isaiah 65.  A new section begins in verse 17, and it's a beauty!

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;

And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

All that previous junk – gone from our memories.  When God restores, He really restores!!

What will it look like?  It is probably well beyond our imagination.

The reference to the new heavens and new earth will come up again in chapter 66.  In the New Testament, we see it in 2 Peter 3 and in Revelation 21.  The Jewish people refer to it as The World To Come.  I love this!  It's so much more accurate than the widespread Christian paradigm of die and go to heaven.

The prophecy in verses 18-19 has not happened yet; it is still to come in human history:

But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; 
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, 
And her people a joy.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, 
And joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, 
Nor the voice of crying.

Can I just talk about Jerusalem for a moment?  I was at a wedding in Jerusalem a couple trips ago, on a hillside overlooking the entire city.  It was a very joyous occasion.  I was amazed at the honor given to Jerusalem in the middle of the ceremony, as they read an excerpt from Psalm 137.

The context of Psalm 137:4-6 is the Babylonian exile.  But these verses have been read at Jewish weddings for almost 2000 years.  Why?  Because Jerusalem is to be the chief joy.  Even above a wedding, which is one of the most joyous occasions there is. This is what that passage says:

How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget its skill!
If I do not remember you,
Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

That joy word, simcha, is very strong. It literally means to spin around with violent emotion.  Like dancing!

The remainder of the chapter describes the future Messianic millennial kingdom:

“No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, 
Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days;

For the child shall die one hundred years old, 
But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.

Who are these people?  By this point, believers will have resurrection bodies that are imperishable.  But not all unbelievers are destroyed by God’s wrath at Yeshua’s return. There will be unsaved people who survive.  Animal sacrifices will still going on during the thousand years.  They continue to paint the picture of blood atonement for those who have not put their faith in the Messiah.

I believe many more will be saved during the millennium.  They will have a choice.

Remember, at the end of the millennium, the devil is released for a short time and tries to deceive the whole world.  You can read about it in Revelation 20:7-9.

Previously dead unbelievers are not resurrected for their judgment until after the thousand years, because believers are still being regenerated.  The judgment of the wicked cannot happen until it’s all said and done.

The passage continues continue in Millennial Kingdom context:

They shall build houses and inhabit them; 
They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit; 
They shall not plant and another eat; 
For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, 
And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain, 
Nor bring forth children for trouble; 
For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, 
And their offspring with them. 
“It shall come to pass 
That before they call, I will answer; 
And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

This sounds pretty awesome to me!

The chapter wraps up with this famous verse:
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, 
The lion shall eat straw like the ox,
And dust shall be the serpent’s food. 
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” 
Says the Lord.

In the Hebrew, the wolf and the lamb are as one.  You see a greater fellowship than just eating together.  The animal kingdom will exist in peace.  Carnivores will become herbivores.  The serpents, however, are still eating dust.  Probably a reminder that the devil has not yet been vanquished fully; he is merely subdued for 1000 years.

The holy mountain of course refers to the Temple and its mount, which is described in detail in Ezekiel 40-43. 

LORD, may your kingdom come!  Soon!

Part one of the next chapter is posted. Click 

here if you want to read it.

If you'd like to start at the beginning of this series on Isaiah, you may click here.