THE PREDICTION OF THE REJECTION OF CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“This is what The Lord says, The Redeemer and The Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: ‘Kings will see You and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because The Lord, who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.’”  Isaiah 49:7 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Most Bible scholars believe that here in this forty-ninth chapter that the prophet Isaiah is presenting the words from God, The Father, and the words from God, The Son.  It begins with The Son referring to being called by The Father before his earthly birth. (Isaiah 49:1-3)  Then The Son said to God, The Father, that His earthly ministry was a labor in vain. (Isaiah 49:4)  God, The Father, said that He was to gather the chosen ones, the children of Israel, to Himself. (Israel 49:5)  God, The Father, also said that He would make The Son a light unto the Gentiles so that the offer of salvation would reach all around the world. (Isaiah 49:6)  Then God, The Father, said that The Son would be despised and abhorred by His own nation, but that kings and princes would later acknowledge and respect Him.

APPLICATION

This prophecy by Isaiah was spoken to the people of Israel some 600 to 700 years before the birth of Jesus, The Christ.  To them this was just a prediction which many of them did not believe and they continued in their sinful ways.  Today, we have the benefit of the hindsight of history in our favor and yet many people still do not believe and continue in their sinful ways.  We should pray, as the father of the young boy who was possessed by an evil spirit prayed, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:17-24)  We need to ask Him to remove all of our doubts so that we may believe wholeheartedly and that all of our prayers will be fervent and effective. (James 5:16)

HARDHEADED AND STUBBORN

PROCLAMATION

“This is what The Lord says, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: ‘I am The Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.  If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.  Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains …”  Isaiah 48:17-19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After offering a call to salvation to the Gentiles in chapter forty-six, The Lord God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and predicts the fall of Babylon in chapter forty-seven of The Bible Book of Isaiah.  He said that they did wrong to the people of Israel and now nothing can save them from the wrath of God. (Isaiah 47:5-15)  Then, in chapter forty-eight He addresses the stubborn remnant of the line of Judah and tells them that He warned them, but they were hardheaded and would not listen to Him. (Isaiah 48:3-4)  The Lord God tells them that He teaches them that which is best for them and directs them in the way that they should go, but they did not pay attention to Him. (Isaiah 48:17-19)

APPLICATION

We all are blessed by The Lord God daily in more ways than we can count.  However, we miss out on many more conditional blessings because we do not obey God’s commands.  We have read The Bible and have heard it preached, but all too often we don’t obey God’s Holy Word.  We are stubborn and hardheaded, and we want to do things our own way.  Our hard head results in our punishments.  I am sure that your mother told you, just like my mother told me, that “A hard head makes for a soft (you know what).”  Our life here on earth would be so much better if we would listen to The Lord and do what He says. (Isaiah 48:18)

A CALL TO SALVATION

PROCLAMATION

“Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from My righteousness.  I am bringing My righteousness near, it is not far away; and My salvation will not be delayed.”  Isaiah 46:12-13 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In chapter forty-five of The Bible Book of Isaiah, The Lord God speaks to His people through the prophet Isaiah and tells them that they will be delivered from captivity in Babylon by Cyrus. (Isaiah 45:1-4)  He reaffirms that He is the one and only true God and tells them of His power. (Isaiah 45:5-10)  Then He tells them of things which are to come in the future, and He also calls the Gentiles to salvation. (Isaiah 45:11-25)  In Chapter forty-six, He tells them that their man-made idols cannot save them, but that He can save them and sustain them. (Isaiah 46:1-4)  In the remainder of the chapter He presents the foolishness of worshiping idols and He ends with a call to salvation for the lost. (Isaiah 46:5-13)

APPLICATION

The kingdom of God is coming and there is nothing that can be done to stop it. (Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, and Mark 1:15)  We will either be joyous participants within it or be lost and suffer for eternity.  Non-believers are now being given the opportunity to repent and believe before it is too late.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10, KJV)

GOD'S PROMISES TO HIS PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“This is what The Lord says, He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: ‘Do not be afraid, Jacob, My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.’”  Isaiah 44:2 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In this chapter The Lord God speaks to His people through the prophet Isaiah and He tells them that they are His chosen people and that He will help them. (Isaiah 44:1-2)  He promises to bless them as He blesses the land with rain. (Isaiah 44:3-4)  Then He tells them of His power and warns them regarding the worship of idols. (Isaiah 44:6-20)  Then He repeats that He made them and tells them that He has forgiven their sins and has redeemed them. (Isaiah 44:21-22)  He promises to deliver them from their enemies, to rebuild their cities, and to restore them. (Isaiah 44:23-28)

APPLICATION

The Lord God knows every detail about us.  He knows our thoughts, spoken words, and actions.

 It was He that created us and formed us while we were in our mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 44:2 and 44:24)  He is all powerful (Matthew 28:18) and He has promised to help us, (Psalm 46:1) to protect us, (Psalm 91:4) to preserve us, (Psalm 31:23) and to restore unto us all that is taken from us. (Isaiah 57:18 and Jeremiah 30:17)  We are His chosen people and we need to act like we belong to Him.  God’s promises can be conditional.  He said, “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)  Remember who we are and whose we are.

THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY

PROCLAMATION

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
In chapter forty-two of The Bible Book of Isaiah describes the character of the coming Christ (Isaiah 42:1-4) and the blessing which will come to them when He establishes His kingdom. (Isaiah 42:6-12)  He will lead all those who trust Him for they cannot see the future which He can see. (Isaiah 42:18-21)  In chapter forty-three, The Lord God is speaking to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah and reminding them that He delivered them through the Red Sea, and He drowned Pharaoh’s army. (Isaiah 43:16-17)  Then He tells them not to dwell on the past for He is doing a new thing for them and making a away through the wilderness.

APPLICATION
The Lord God told Israel, and He is telling us today, that the deliverance out of past situations would be outdone by the deliverance He will provide for us out of our new predicament.  He made a way for them in the past and He will make a way out of our storms for us today.  He will do for us something which has never been done before.  All we have to do is believe in Him, call on Him, and trust in Him. 

THE LORD GOD IS OUR HELP

PROCLAMATION

“So do no fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Here The Lord God speaks to Israel through the prophet Isaiah and tells them that He will strengthen them, help them, and protect them.  He reminds them, and all of the surrounding nations, that He cares for them. (Isaiah 41:1-9)  He encourages them and tells them that He will protect them. (Isaiah 41:10-20)  Then He presents Himself as the only one and true God by showing what He has done which the idol gods cannot do. (Isaiah 41:21-29)

APPLICATION

The Lord God has done for us things that no one or nothing else could ever do.  From our creation in our mother’s womb and our birth, (Psalm 139:13-16) to keeping us alive and safe though all of the years of our life.  He has protected us from our enemies and provided for our needs, and He will continue to do so. (Isaiah 41:10-14)  This promise is not just for Israel, it is for all believers.  This promise is not earned; all we have to do to receive it is believe.

KEEP YOUR HOPE IN THE LORD

PROCLAMATION

“But those who hope in The Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Chapter forty of The Bible Book of Isaiah presents The Lord God as The Savior and focuses on His grace.  It begins offering a comfort to God’s people, given all that they had been through. (Isaiah 40:1-5)  God is described as a gentle shepherd who carries His lambs close to His heart. (Isaiah 40:11)  Then there is a lengthy discourse proving that The Lord God has no equal and that nothing or no one really compares to Him. (Isaiah 40:12-29)  Finally it states that even young men will get tired and weary, but they that have their hope in The Lord God will have their strength renewed.  They will be able to run and not get tired, and they will be able walk long distances and not faint.  They will also rise up and fly high, and like eagles they will soar effortlessly in the air.

APPLICATION

Bible scholars suggest that this verse refers to three levels of power, walking, running, and flying, or three stages of Christian growth, the young can run, the adults will fly, and the mature will walk non-stop in the ways of God without getting tired.  The Lord God gives strength to the weary and power to the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)  All of our human ability to function comes from God.  It is in Him that we live, move, and have our very being. (Acts 17:28)  As we age, our physical abilities change.  They increase while we are young, and then gradually decrease when we get old.  However, our spiritual abilities should continue to increase as we grow in knowledge and holiness, as we progress from babes in Christ to mature Christian adults, and as we progress from milk to meat. (1 Corinthians 3:2)  We need to thank The Lord God for all that He has done, is doing, and will do for us.  Let us remember to keep our hope and faith in The Lord. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)  Things may be dismal right now but continue to wait on The Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

A PRAYER FOR A LONGER LIFE IS ANSWERED

PROCLAMATION

“Then the word of The Lord came to Isaiah: ‘Go back and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what The Lord, The God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.  And I will deliver you and this city …”  Isaiah 38:4-6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Beginning in chapter thirty-six, the prophet Isaiah repeats some history of Judah and prophecies which were presented previously in The Bible Book of Second Kings. (2 Kings 20:5-6)  To recount the events which are referenced here, King Hezekiah got sick and became ill to the point of death. (Isaiah 38:1)  He consulted with the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was going to die.  Then King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and wept, and prayed to The Lord. (2 Kings 20:2-3 and Isaiah 38:2-3)  Afterwards, Isaiah left the presence of the king but before he could get completely out of the palace, The Lord spoke to him and told him to go back to King Hezekiah and tell him that He heard his prayer and saw his tears, and that He would add fifteen more years to his life.

APPLICATION

King Hezekiah walked faithfully before The Lord with wholehearted devotion and did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord and He extended his life.  The Bible says that the days of our lives will be threescore and ten, seventy years old, but that could be lengthen or shortened. (Psalm 90:10)  The Bible also says that we can lengthen our days on earth by honoring our father and mother. (Exodus 20:12)  By honoring them we need to give them affection, reverence, esteem, obedience, and to give them assistance with the things that they need.  Here Hezekiah showed us that a good Christian walk and a prayer request can also extend our lives on earth.  We do not know the hour or the day when we will transition from labor to reward, but we now know that it is possible to get an extended stay here before we go home to heaven.

THE LORD GOD WILL FIGHT OUR BATTLES

PROCLAMATION

“Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You, Lord, are the only God.”  Isaiah 37:20 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Isaiah does not present the prophecies in chronological order.  After earlier talking about the Battle of Armageddon and Heaven on Earth, here in chapter thirty-six the prophet Isaiah repeats some history of Judah and prophecies which were presented previously in The Bible Book of Second Kings (2 Kings 18:17-37) and in The Bible Book of Second Chronicles. (2 Chronicles 32:9-19)  To recount the events, King Hezekiah had been faithful to The Lord God, but he still came under attack.  The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, invaded Judah, and laid siege to some of the fortified cities. (Isaiah 36:1)  Sennacherib sent a message to Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem attempting to discourage them by ridiculing their king, their army, and their God. (Isaiah 36:2-20)  Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, prayed to The Lord God and He sent down an angel from heaven who killed all of the fighting men, commanders, and officials in the Assyrian camp. (Isaiah 37:14-38)

APPLICATION
The Lord God did not say that just because we believed in Him that we would not be attacked, or go through storms, or have troubles.  What He said was that He would never leave or forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5) and that He would fight our battles for us. (2 Chronicles 32:8, 2 Kings 19:34 and Isaiah 37:33-35)  He may not calm all of our storms, although He has the power to do so, (Mark 4:39) but He will be with us and protect us as we go through the storms. (Psalm 91:4) He also said that in the end the victory would be ours. (1 Corinthians 15:57)  It does not matter what kind of trouble that we have which is causing us to suffer now.  It will be short-lived because our joy is coming. (Psalm 30:5) 

PEACE AFTER THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IS PREDICTED

PROCLAMATION

“Come near, you nations, and listen … The Lord is angry with all nations; His wrath is on all armies.  He will totally destroy them, He will give them over to slaughter.”  Isaiah 34:1-2 (NIV)

“And those The Lord has rescued will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  Isaiah 35:10 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In this chapter Isaiah prophecies about the War of Armageddon, the day when The Lord God will vent His wrath against all the nations who oppose Israel (Isaiah 34:8) and totally destroy them. (Isaiah 34:1-2)  Here The Lord God speaks to all of the nations through the prophet Isaiah and tells them that He is angry with them and then tells them what is going to happen to them. (Isaiah 34:1-15)  Then, after Armageddon, He tells them, in chapter thirty-five, that they will witness His glory and splendor as he blesses His people. (Isaiah 35:1-10)

APPLICATION

In the coming War of Armageddon, all of the non-believing nations that stand against Israel will be destroyed.  There is no mention of any great western nation coming to the aid of Israel.  So, either the United States is included among the non-believing nations or it has been weakened to the point of insignificance and cannot come to the aid of Israel.  As believers we will not have to endure this because it will all occur after the rapture of the church. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)  However, even now it is probably not a good idea to actively oppose or stand against Israel.  We cannot hate the Jews and claim to be believers. (1 John 4:20)  We need to learn to love one another, (John 13:34-35) to love our neighbors, (Matthew 22:29) and to love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44)  Let us let the love and word of Christ dwell within us. (Colossians 3:16)

PRAY AND BE GRACIOUS GOD IS IN CONTROL

PROCLAMATION

“Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You.  Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”  Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In this chapter the prophet Isaiah predicts that the enemies of the church, those who would betray it and destroy it, will themselves be destroyed. (Isaiah 33:1 and 33:4)  Those of us who believe and behave and speak righteously will be blessed and happy. (Isaiah 33:15-16)

APPLICATION

Woe unto them who would mistreat the people of God.  Those who betray God’s people and attempt to destroy them will themselves be betrayed and destroyed. (Isaiah 33:1)  As we sow, so shall we also reap. (Galatians 6:7)  We should pray every morning for ourselves, our families, our friends, and for those who would do us harm. (Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:28)  We need to pray for God’s help to be gracious to our enemies and let Him heap burning coals on their heads as we kill them with kindness. (Romans 12:20)  Let us not be stressed because of evil doers or the storms of life. (Psalm 31:1, Psalm 37:7-8, and Proverbs 24:19)  Don’t worry, The Lord God is still in control of everything.

REPEATING CYCLES OF GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES

PROCLAMATION

“Till The Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.”  Isaiah 32:15 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In chapter thirty-one the prophet Isaiah continues to present the woes which will befall the children of Israel, for relying on Egypt instead of The Lord God, which he began in chapter thirty. (Isaiah 31:1-5)  Isaiah encourages them to return to The Lord and tells them that God will take care of their enemy Assyria. (Isaiah 31:8-9)  In chapter thirty-two Isaiah predicts a time of peace and happiness and prosperity for Israel. (Isaiah 32:1-8)  Then he prophecies to the women that in one year their crops will fail, their great cities will be deserted and abandoned, and their fields will become wastelands. (Isaiah 32:9-14)  After this, The Lord God will pour out His Spirit upon the people and the land and it will become fertile again and there will again be peace in the land. (Isaiah 32:15-20)  one day, there will come a King who will reign in righteousness with justice. (Isaiah 32:1)

APPLICATION

We have become a very proud, complacent, self-indulgent, stingy people and we seek help from everywhere but from The Lord God.  Therefore, like the children of Israel, we will continue to go through periods of good times followed by periods of bad times.  Then we will pray for mercy and act right for a while and The Lord will bless us again, until we start to turn away from Him again.  Our lives are like the mathematical sine wave with repeating cycles of ups and downs.  If we really want our country to be healed, then we need to humble ourselves and pray, and seek God, and turn from our wicked ways before The Lord will hear us and answer our prayers. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  Repent people, the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:15)

SOME BAD THINGS WE BRING UPON OURSELVES

PROCLAMATION

“Woe to the obstinate children’, declares The Lord, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not Mine, forming an alliance, but not with My Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; …”  Isaiah 30:1 (NIV) 

EXPLANATION

In this prophecy Isaiah tells the children of Israel that The Lord God said that they would suffer from misfortune, affliction, and grief because they did things without consulting Him.  They sought help from neighboring countries on one side when they were being troubled by a country on another side.  Then Isaiah told them of The Lord’s judgements which they would suffer as a consequence for their contempt of God’s Holy Word. (Isaiah 30:8-18)

APPLICATION

We should look to The Lord God when we need help. (Psalm 121:1-2)  Whenever we need help, we should go to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:16)  Even when we don’t know exactly what is that we ought to pray for, we still should go to The Lord in prayer because The Holy Spirit of God can make intercessions for us even when all we can do is moan and groan. (Romans 8:26)  Do not put your trust in man, (Psalm 146:5) God is our refuge and strength, (Psalm 46:1) and blessed is the man who puts his trust in The Lord. (Psalm 34:8)  Before we say or do anything, we should always pray and ask for guidance and directions. (Proverbs 3:6 and Luke 18:1)  Sincere prayers do not have to be long in order to be effective. (Matthew 14:30 and James 5:16)  When we act without praying, bad things usually happen to us.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHO THE LORD GOD IS

PROCLAMATION

“You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!  Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘You did not make me’?  Can the pot say to the potter ‘You know nothing’?”  Isaiah 29:16 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In chapter twenty-nine the prophet Isaiah presents the coming judgements from The Lord God on Jerusalem, herein referred to as Ariel, and on the enemies of the Jews. (Isaiah 29:1-8)  He describes the senselessness of the Jewish people. (Isaiah 29:9-16)  Then Isaiah ends the chapter with a prophecy regarding the conversion of the Gentiles (Isaiah 29:17-18) and the future blessings for the Jews. (Isaiah 29:-19-24)

APPLICATION

All too often we, the created beings into which The Lord God breathed the breath of life, (Genesis 2:7) act as if we know what is best for us and we act like we know more than God.  We frequently have to be reminded of His greatness and punished for our sinful arrogance.  Our eyes and ears are open, but we cannot see, or hear, or understand.  There are times when we just go through the motions of worship, but our heart is not really into it. (Isaiah 29:13)  Remember, in the movie “Left Behind”, one of the people who was left behind after the rapture was the pastor of a church.  The Lord God knows us, and He hears our words; but He also sees our heart and knows our motives and intentions. (1 Samuel 2:3 and 16:7)  As believers we need to be still and reflect on all that He has done and know that He is The Almighty God. (Psalm 46:10)  We need to humble ourselves before Him and praise His Holy Name. (Isaiah 29:19 and 29:23)

PRIDE CAN CLOUD ONE'S JUDGEMENT AS WINE DOES

PROCLAMATION

“Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley; to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!”  Isaiah 28:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In the previous chapters twenty-four through twenty-seven, the prophecies of Isaiah were regarding events which would occur far into the future.  Here in chapter twenty-eight the prophecies are focused on the immediate future of the northern kingdom of Israel, herein referred to as Ephraim and later on as Samaria, which would soon go into Assyrian captivity. (Isaiah 28:1-13)  The leaders were so full of pride that they had forgotten about The Lord God.  This chapter also included a warning to the southern kingdom of Judah to change their behavior or they would also be taken into captivity. (Isaiah 28:14-22)  

APPLICATION

Too much pride can cause one to have an over-inflated image of one’s self.  Pride usually precedes a haughty spirit and a fall. (Psalm 16:18 and 29:23)  Leaders can become “drunk” from pride, popularity, and prosperity which can lead to poor decisions.  When leaders have too much pride it usually results in the destruction of the nation. (Isaiah 28:3-4)  Even religious leaders can be proud and their judgements can be affected as if they were drunk on wine or beer or some other alcoholic beverage. (Isaiah 28:7)   We are taught not to have too high of an opinion of ourselves. (Romans 12:3)  Too much pride can cause one to look down on others and to think too low of them.  Being pleased with a personal accomplishment is probably okay, but we should remember that our goal is to please The Lord God and not ourselves.  Our accomplishments should allow us to be better positioned to help and bless others.  Remember, to whom much is given, of him will much be required. (Luke 12:48)  We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others (Proverbs 11:25) not to lord over them.

THE DELIVERANCE OF GOD'S PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“In that day, ‘Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, The Lord, will watch over it; I water it continually.  I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.”  Isaiah 27:3 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

The prophet Isaiah continues his prophecy herein regarding the deliverance, provision, and protection of the people of God. (Isaiah 27:1-3)  In this chapter Isaiah metaphorically recounts the history of Israel from warfare to exile and even references their idol worship. (Isaiah 27:4-11)  The chapter ends with a reference to the second coming of Christ and the gathering up of all those who believe in Him. (Isaiah 27:12-13) 

APPLICATION

If the truth be told, not only will The Lord God take care of us in the future, “In that day …,” He took care of us in the past and He is taking care of us now.  He has delivered us out of prior storms, made a way out of no way, provided for us when we didn’t know where our next meal was coming from, and protected us from dangers seen and unseen.  We ought to thank Him for all that He has done, is doing, and will do in the future.  Praise His holy name.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND HEAVEN ON EARTH

PROCLAMATION

“In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.  Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.  You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”  Isaiah 26:1-3 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

The prophet Isaiah foretells of the burdens which will put upon the nine nations which surround Judah in chapters thirteen through twenty-three.  In chapter thirteen of The Bible Book of Isaiah is the prophecy for the destruction of the kingdom of Babylon.  It shall be destroyed as by God, as were Sodom and Gomorrah, and turned into a wasteland. (Isaiah 13:19-22)  Chapter fourteen continues to describe the burden which will befall the people of Babylon then goes into the prophecy against the Philistines.  Chapters fifteen and sixteen contains the prophecy against Moab.  Chapter seventeen presents the prophecy against Damascus.  Chapter eighteen reveals the prophecy against Cush.  In chapters nineteen and twenty Isaiah presents the prophecy against Egypt and Assyria.  Chapter twenty-one contains more prophecy against Babylon, and then against Edom.  Chapter twenty-two reveals the prophecy against Israel, the northern kingdoms.  And finally in chapter twenty-three Isaiah tells the prophecy against Tyre.  Chapter twenty-four presents the final judgement against the earth which is The Great Tribulation period.  Then the return of Christ after the Tribulation and the establishment of The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth is revealed in chapters twenty-five and twenty-six.  This is the kingdom which Jesus, The Christ, preached about. (Matthew 3:2 and 4:17) 

APPLICATION

Considering all of the hell that the people will go through on earth during The Tribulation, it is good to know that we as believers will not have to face it because we will not be here, as this will all occur after the rapture of the church. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)  We will come back with Christ to enjoy heaven on earth during the Kingdom Age.  We will enjoy God’s perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3)  So, do not worry about current suffering, or evil people, and don’t envy those who cheat and get ahead for The Lord God will deal with them. (Psalm 37:1-2)  Believe in Him, obey His Holy Word, do that which is right, and trust in Him.  Trust in The Lord, for The Lord Himself is The Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:4)

POST PUNISHMENT PRAISE

PROCLAMATION

“In that day you will say: ‘I will praise You, Lord.  Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away and You have comforted me.’”  Isaiah 12:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Chapter eleven of The Bible Book of Isaiah is a continuation of the prophecy which began in chapter seven.  Chapter eleven presents a prophetic view of the coming of The Messiah to establish His kingdom and it describes some aspects of the kingdom. (Isaiah 11:1-16)  The  prophecy in chapter twelve reveals the post tribulation period of singing, praise, and worship which will occur during the Kingdom Age. (Isaiah 12:1-6)   

APPLICATION

“In that day,” after we have had our spanking for messing up, we all will have been forgiven and all will be right with the world.  The remnant of believers who survived the Tribulation will be gathered from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12) and join up with those of us who were caught up in the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and the joyous time of singing and praising The Lord in the Kingdom Age will begin.  This is what we have in front of us to look forward to in the future.  We cannot even begin to imagine how great things will be when this happens. (1 Corinthians 2:9)  However, this will only be for those of us whose names are written in The Lamb’s Book of Life.  Whosoever is a non-believer will not have their name written in this book and they will spend eternity in hell. (Revelation 20:15)

THE REMNANT OF BELEIVERS

PROCLAMATION

“In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on The Lord, The Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 10:20 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After the prophet Isaiah predicted the coming of The Messiah, he told them of The Lord’s wrath which would befall them. (Isaiah 9:8-21 and 10:1-19)  Then he told them that not all of them would be destroyed.  A remnant of the people of Israel would survive the Assyrian attack and captivity, and they would return to The Lord God Almighty. (Isaiah 10:20-22)  It does not matter what the Israelites had done, or gone through, or how many times they had turned away from Him, there was always a remnant that remained faithful to The Lord.  Isaiah also told them that after The Lord had punished Israel, He would destroy the Assyrians whom He had used to punish them. (Isaiah 10:23-34)

APPLICATION

Although today we frequently turn away from The Word of God and sin, as believers we will be punished but not utterly destroyed.  There will always remain that faithful few who will do right  and continue to worship The Lord God.  He punishes us, but His anger will soon end and then He will turn His wrath on those who oppressed and wronged us. (Psalm 30:5 and Isaiah 10:25)  We may be knocked down, but we will not be utterly destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:9)  He punishes us when we are wrong because He loves us. (Hebrews 12:6)  So, let us remember to thank Him and to praise His name for we are still here, and we have been spared from death and destruction. (Psalm 30:4, 106:1, 107:1, 118:1, 136:1, and 136:26)

THE COMING OF CHRIST IS PREDICTED

PROCLAMATION

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of The Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”  Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

The prophet Isaiah predicts that Assyria will destroy Judah. (Isaiah 7:18-25)  He states that Judah will be taken into captivity by the king of Assyria, and that this will occur before his yet unborn son can speak. (Isaiah 8:1-4)  He goes on to describe the dark days which lie ahead for them, (Isaiah 8:5-22) but then states that the darkness will be turned into light and he predicts the coming of The Messiah. (Isaiah 9:1-7) 

APPLICATION

This passage is clearly a prediction of the coming of The Messiah.  There is some debate among Bible scholars whether or not it refers to the first or the second coming of Christ.  The first sentence seems to refer to the first coming with the reference to a child being born.  The second and third sentences, with references to an endless peace and His reign on David’s throne from that time on and forever, clearly refers to His second coming.  The first coming as already occurred and the second coming is probably closer to occurring than we realize.  We need to get ready now because it may be too late for us to get ready later.  When Christ comes the second time, every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will acknowledge that He is Lord over all people. (Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10)  He will be seen coming in the clouds and He will gather all believers to Himself. (Matthew 24:30-31)  Believe in The Lord, confess your sins, accept Him as your personal Savior, and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10)  There will soon come a day when it will be too late for you to be saved. (Luke 13:25-27)

THE BIRTH OF JESUS THE CHRIST IS PROPHESIED

PROCLAMATION

“Therefore The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.”  Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After King Uzziah died and his grandson Ahaz was king of Judah, Rezin the king of Aram (Syria) and Pekah the king of Israel joined forces and marched up together to fight against Judah and the people were afraid. (Isaiah 7:1-2)  Then The Lord spoke to Isaiah and told him to take his son with him and go speak to King Ahaz and tell him that they planned to invade Judah, but this will not happen. (Isaiah 7:3-7)  Ahaz was a wicked king who knew that The Lord God was The God of his people but his unbelief in and indifference to The Word of God caused Isaiah to tell him to ask for a sign from God to prove what he had told him was true. (Isaiah 7:10-11)  But Ahaz refused to ask for a sign and Isaiah told him that The Lord God was going to give them a sign.  Isaiah told them that Rezin and Pekah would not attack Judah but later the people of Judah would be taken into captivity by the king of Assyria. (Isaiah 7:20)

APPLICATION

This prophesy regarding the birth of Jesus, The Christ, by a virgin young woman was spoken by Isaiah some 600 to 700 years beforehand. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, and 11:1-4)  Many people did not believe it then and many people still do not believe it today.  The Bible documents that there were ten generations from Adam to Noah, (Genesis 5:1-32) and ten more generations from Noah to Abraham. (Genesis 11:10-26)  There were forty-two generations from Abraham to Jesus, including fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David to the exile in Babylon, and fourteen additional generations from the exile to The Messiah, Jesus, The Christ. (Matthew 1:1-17)  While the lineage of  Jesus can be clearly documented, what is often questioned is the virgin conception and birth.  The Bible documents that Mary the mother of Jesus was a virgin at the time of conception. (Matthew 1:18-23 and Luke 1:26-38)  Salvation requires belief in the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ. (Roman 10:9-10)

HERE I AM LORD SEND ME

PROCLAMATION

“Then I heard the voice of The Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?’  And I said, ‘Here am I.  Send me.”  Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
In chapter three Isaiah predicts the judgement which will fall on Jerusalem and Judah because of their sins against The Lord. (Isaiah 3:1-26)  Chapter four presents the prophecy of Jesus, The Christ, in which He is described as “The Branch of The Lord.” (Isaiah 4:2-6)  Chapter five is a parable of a vineyard which is presented as a song that details the destruction of the Jews and their land. (Isaiah 5:1-30)  In chapter six Isaiah presents a vision which he had of The Lord in the year that King Uzziah died. (Isaiah 6:1-13)  In the vision he saw The Lord seated on His throne and he cried “Woe is me” because he had unclean lips, and an angel came to him and placed a piece of hot coal on his lips to atone for his sins. (Isaiah 6:5-7)  Then he heard the voice of The Lord as who could He sent to deliver His message to the people.  Isaiah answered Him and said, “Here am I.  Send me.”

APPLICATION
We do not have to be perfect in order to do the work of The Lord.  As long as we believe in Him and confess our sins, He can use us to deliver His word to His people.  We can be pardoned of our sins, but we still have to be willing to work for The Lord.  The Lord qualifies whomever He chooses.  Remember, He told Moses that I will help you speak and tell you what to say. (Exodus 4:10-12)  However, He does not force us, we must come to Him and obey His word of our own free will.  Whosoever will, let them come. (Revelation 22:17)  The question is, when The Lord God calls us, how will we answer Him?  Here I am, Lord, send me.

THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING

PROCLAMATION

“The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled) … People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of The Lord and the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.”  Isaiah 2:12-19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
Here the prophet Isaiah presents the vision that he saw concerning the future of Jerusalem and Judah. (Isaiah 2:1)  This is a prophecy regarding the last days, the end of the world as we know it.  The chapter begins with the enlargement of God’s kingdom on earth by the calling of the gentiles as believers from all nations, and they will all come to the mountain of The Lord. (Isaiah 2:2-3)  Isaiah then briefly describes those who have fallen away from The Lord and become involved in the worship of idols. (Isaiah 2:6-9)  These are the people who will be trying to hide from the presence of The Lord on the day when He returns. (Isaiah 2:10-11)  They will be humbled and hiding.  This prophecy is repeated in the sixth chapter of The Bible Book of Revelation. (Revelation 6:15-16)

APPLICATION
The coming day of The Lord will be the time when God will take His vengeance upon all of the non-believing sinners.  The church, all of the believers, will have been removed from the world beforehand in the rapture.  He will deal with the proud (Isaiah 2:13), governments and societies (Isaiah 2:14), the world’s armies (Isaiah 2:15), businesses and commerce (Isaiah 2:16), the arrogant (Isaiah 2:17), and all false religions. (Isaiah 2:18)  The Lord God will deal with everything and everybody that is outside of the church when He comes.  Do not be like the people who were left outside of the ark in Noah’s day when the flood came. (Genesis 7:16-21)  Don’t be one of those who is left behind when the rapture occurs. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)  Believe in The Lord, confess your sins, accept Him as your personal Savior, and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) There will come a day when it will be too late for you. (Luke 13:27)

A SINFUL NATION IN A TIME OF CRISIS

PROCLAMATION

“Wash and make yourselves clean.  Take your evil deeds out of My sight; stop doing wrong.  Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow … Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow … If you are willing to be obedient …”  Isaiah 1:16-19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz lived in a time of tension and crisis during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Isaiah 1:1)  The brutal nation of Assyria to the north had already taken the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity.  The great nation of Babylon to the west would eventually take Judah into captivity.  The people of Judah had rebelled against The Lord God and He spoke to them, through the prophet Isaiah, offering them another chance if they would be obedient. (Isaiah 1:2-20)  The Lord God told Judah exactly how bad they had become and what would happen to them if they continued in their current sinful ways. (Isaiah 1:21-31)

APPLICATION

Today, we frequently talk about how bad the children of Israel were, but if the truth be told our country is not much better.  We are also dealing with catastrophic times and social upheaval.  Our leaders do not seem to care about the poor people.  We have rebelled against God and taken prayer and The Bible out of the schools.  There is corruption in all levels of government.  Most of the people are hardheaded or hard-hearted.  The torn down, riot burned areas of our inner cities are still in ruins decades later.  We have no morals, Sodom and Gomorrah had nothing on us by comparison.  Some of the things that go on in our churches in the name of religion has nothing to do with worshiping The Lord God.  Some of the sermons preached from the pulpits are not based on The Bible, and the people have developed itching ears. (2 Timothy 4:3)  We need to repent, to clean up our act, turn from our wicked ways, and seek The Lord God before He will hear our prayers and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  As sinful as we are, He is offering us another chance, if we are willing to be obedient. (Isaiah 1:18-19)