Plunging into The Glory; Isaiah 60-66
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
July 1, 2015
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Introduction:July 1, 2015 Plunging into The Glory Isaiah 60-66 The last six chapters comprise a climax to "the re-introduction of God to His people." For fifty-nine chapters the prophet unfolded a dramatic display of the intervening power of the Almighty in behalf of His covenant people. Now, it is time to rehearse what has been said and rapidly close his work. In these six chapters, Isaiah used a broad brush to show how God has followed a plan from the beginning of time to the end of the ages. That plan has never been far removed from His people and its intent is to bring His kingdom on earth and a New Jerusalem where the old one stands. Jerusalem is special. The current fight over its control is expected in light of the prophecy that surrounds it. Like a magnet drawing the nations to judgment, earthly Jerusalem will end as the heavenly one descends (Similar to Jacobs ladder, heaven and earth will come together). As these last chapters unfold, it becomes the duty of both the writer and the reader to separate what is a promise to national Israel and what is promised to the church. To help in this task, one needs to remember Isaiah uses familiar events in Israel's history to reveal future events in the providence of God. For instance, he used Israel's deliverance from Egypt (as a reminder) to show his nation that God is still able to deliver His people. Now, he equates Israel's restoration (after the Babylonian captivity, which was an event taking place after his lifetime) to be evidence that God can yet rescue and glorify His people. As in any comparison, Isaiah vacillates between items cogent to Israel's Babylonian return and those at the end of the ages. Just as Israel had to rebuild their cities and Temple after the return of Zerubbabel, God is shown bestowing His favor on the Church and promises His Temple reign on earth will be magnificent. One of the hallmark passages is in chapter 61, which Jesus quoted in the Temple (as recorded in Luke 4:18ff). Jesus stopped short of quoting the entire passage, however. He ended before announcing, "the day of vengeance." He deliberately separated the beginning of His ministry from those times of violent intervention by the heavens. Chapter 60: This chapter begins with a mandate: The Lord opens His treatise to the church with a command: "Arise, Let your light shine for all the nations to see." What will be the result of shining out to the nations? "All nations will come to your light." (We have seen this proven. All nations and tribes of men have responded to the Gospel light, either positively or negatively.)Isaiah 60:1-3 Notice also, "Darkness, as black as night, shall cover all the peoples of the earth." As in the day of deliverance from Egypt, the children of light stood out against the background darkness of Pharaoh. Isaiah then uses the "known" world of his day as well as citing familiar places (that were at unease with Israel), portraying them as coming to bow before them. In like manner, the church will see those who have opposed its message coming to support it. Isaiah will soon juxtapose the differences between the restoration of Israel after Babylon and the glorification of the church after persecution.Isaiah 60:10-12 When Zerubbabel arrived to restore the ancient city and Ezra came to rebuild the Temple, the response of the people was twofold. From the younger generation there was rejoicing, but with the elder citizenry there was weeping. The elders realized the rebuilt Temple did not have the glory of the former. In other words, Jerusalem was rebuilt, but only national Israel was restored - spiritual Israel was not restored. This was the case when Jesus arrived and in many ways is the case today! However, when modern Israel emerged, it was to be a sign to the church (The Isaiah promises were about to take place in them. A single sentence proves it). (Previously God said in Isaiah 60:7, 'I will glorify My glorious Temple in that day.')Isaiah 60:13 Then, the prophet points to the timeframe for this aggrandizement: It is now time for this prophecy to be fulfilled.Isaiah 60:19-61:1 Chapter 61: The context for this glorious transformation began with Jesus and the birth of the early church. When the church was born, it was born in Israel and in Jerusalem. No longer would the territory be known as the habitation of the Jews, for a transformation began with the birth of the glory-filled upper room. Spiritual association with this event changed forever the relevance of that city. No longer would it be characterized as the place of the Temple, but the place of the birth of His Kingdom on earth. Jesus positioned it as the seat of the church. When Jesus began His ministry, He quoted the following passages from Isaiah 61 and He did so inside the Temple. He established spiritual Israel and the spiritual Temple at that time. He reiterated the fact when He spoke to the woman at the well, "neither will you worship in this mountain nor in Jerusalem..."Isaiah 60:18 When Jesus quoted what is recorded in Luke 4:18ff, He stopped short of the complete passage. "The day of vengeance" had not come, and He was not at liberty to announce it. Isaiah 61: 3 is oft quoted. The rejection of the Church and its message has brought Inquisitions, periods of dark oppression, death, hunger and family separation, but in "the day of the Lord," those trials are forever gone.Isaiah 61:1-3 Double Grace is upon the glorious church (Grace: the enabler, helper to be what God called one to be, the great provider for the task He has called you to do, the great covering for the anointing flowing out of your life, the great eraser of all your sin and shame).Isaiah 61:6-7 TLB Paul declared the church to be comprised of priests and kings administering grace through the New Covenant. Isaiah saw the day and prophesied it so to be! Chapter 62:Isaiah 61:8 At the beginning of this chapter, Isaiah declares His love for the people of God and Jerusalem. He sees the promise of God in the distance and commits himself to be an intercessor until God delivers those pledges. In these next two chapters, there are some immutable promises: First, He promises to bless His people and be constantly available to them. Second, He promises to punish those who rebel against Him and trouble His people. Below is Isaiah's commitment to that agenda. While introducing this portion, a rare thing occurs; Isaiah talks about himself and his feelings. Clearly, it is a response to the overwhelming prospect facing the transformation that must take place. He even says God will give Zion a new name. The old name is associated with sin, rebellion and is despised on the earth. The New Name is associated with God's glory. God has done this before, in giving a new name to Abraham and Sarah, as well as Jacob.Isaiah 62:1-2 Spiritual authority takes place in the following passages. Isaiah establishes a plan of action based on the edict of God. He establishes intercessors with one goal in mind. This plan will end when God does His final work. The question is: where are the intercessors?Isaiah 62:12 This plan of action is exactly what is required today for the establishment of the glorious church. A call to ceaseless prayer is currently being circulated among the saints. This is a time of serious intercession, just as in Isaiah's day. We know God's promises, it is time to usher them in.Isaiah 62:6 Chapter 63: Similar to the role of the "daughters of Jerusalem" in the Song of Solomon, Isaiah participates in a dialogue with God. (See: Song of Solomon 3:6-8.) The Lord revealed no one rose to help Him. That which Jesus could not announce (that day in the Temple) has arrived, "the day of vengeance." Where are His helpers? Where are those intercessors? Where are the people of God who stand with Him and are His servants?Isaiah 63:1-7 Answering the Lord's declaration, Isaiah verbalizes what should have been a national prayer from Israel. He experienes the distance from God that has characterized His people. Isaiah takes on the personae of the whole nation and their history of abandoning the Lord. He truly is an intercessor. Hear his plea: Chapter 64 (Intercession Continued):Isaiah 63:19 Isaiah offers one of the greatest prayers in the Bible. It would do well to stand on the steps of all the nation's capitols and cry out what he cried out, lest the nations experience what Israel did.Isaiah 64:1 Oh, that You would burst forth from the skies and come down. Isaiah 64:2-5 The Lord answered His plea. Chapter 65: The Lord reminded Isaiah that even though Israel had forgotten Him, there are others who have not. The birth of the Church caused the expansion of His people and the establishment of His kingdom. He revealed to Isaiah He no longer depends on Israel to be His witness to the world. Even though His plan is set before Him, He will honor His chosen ones.Isaiah 65:1 There was an Israel of God within Israel the nation; just as there is a people of God among the flocks of churches. O' church, just as it should not have been in the days of Isaiah, it should not be today, not all Israel was God's Israel and not all the church is THE CHURCH.Isaiah 65:8-9 However, the message of God is clear for this hour. Rise Up, O Church within the church, and let your light shine! Isaiah said it as well.2 Timothy 2:19 The Lord's answer to Isaiah's intercession did not veer from His plan.Isaiah 28:16-17 The Lord points to a future time, maybe even beyond current times, when He will establish His Temple, His Jerusalem, His heaven on earth, with the people of a NEW NAME.Isaiah 65:13-15 (Reader: Can you read this passage without shouting, "Haste the Day?" If not, then you had best read it again!)Isaiah 65:16-25 Yes, the Lord knew the sin of His people without Isaiah's national confession. Most of this chapter reveals the intricacies of a people who did not honor Him, but He chose to promise a new day. We have a forward-facing God, who dwells not on the past, but in what He can do with the future. The nations of the earth are fast becoming what is defined in the first portion of this chapter. Nonetheless, His eye is cast toward the end of "that" and the beginning of "His Day." Chapter 66: The final chapter in Isaiah is one of separation. The Lord separates the unholy Jew from the holy ones. He separates the nations that support Israel and those who do not. He promises blessing to the holy and retribution to the loose, unchaste, hypocritical religious fakers. He knows the difference. The Lord promises a New Jerusalem which will be established in a day. Many point to these Scriptures and say, "1948 saw Israel born in a day," here is proof. The beginning lines of this chapter seem to aim at the Zionist wish to re-establish the Temple and sacrifices. When secular-religious people take charge of sacred duties, the sacred becomes unholy.Isaiah 66:1-4 This entire chapter is spoken to those familiar with the things of God. Look at the passages that say, "I called and you didn't answer." (The rich man in hell was a devout Jew!) Note: that which began in Chapter 65 will be repeated. Chip Brim was correct in asking God, "Why are you going to punish this nation?" God's answer came in sounds, sounds of "a gavel coming down." Bam: no prayer in public schools. Bam: Roe vs. Wade. Bam: Take down the Ten Commandments from government building. Bam: Gay marriage. With each gavel sound came another determination against God.Isaiah 65:12 'When I called, you didn't answer; when I spoke, you wouldn't listen. You deliberately sinned before my very eyes, choosing to do what you know I despise.' Repetition is a didactic form; it adds emphasis and sets principles. 'Yet I will look with pity on the man who has a humble and a contrite heart, who trembles at My word.'Isaiah 66:2 Isaiah 66:5 5 'Hear the words of God, all you who fear him, and tremble at his words: "Your brethren hate you and cast you out for being loyal to My name." "Glory to God," they scoff. "Be happy in the Lord!" But they shall be put to shame.' TLB I believe there are three separate scenes regarding Jerusalem in this final prophetic word. I firmly believe the Lord gave Isaiah a vision of Jerusalem that scanned its spiritual significance from the beginning of time to the very end of time. Isaiah witnessed the Jerusalem of his day, but saw it spiritually from its start to finish (note: Acts 3). I find it interesting that of those who escape the wrath of the Lord, of such will become the missionaries to the world. They will have seen His power and they willingly scatter to tell the nations about Him. They are believers for sure. They will also be the source of returning His people to the city.l. The Jerusalem of Jesus' Day: Note: it says "will be like offerings flowing into the Temple." It does not say there will be a Temple in Jerusalem. Those returning will be because of the missionaries (Converts to the Lord Jesus). Many things are "not said" in these passages. The shift back and forth between blessing and judgment is a beautiful integration of the Presence of the Lord in the scenario. His overt activities in these historical events make the difference. Time is not a factor to Him, there is no past or future-only the Now! Addendum:3. The New Jerusalem Isaiah 66:22-24 Isaiah accomplished his task of re-introducing God to His people and to the world. His emphasis on the glory and power of the Lord toward His own and toward those who oppose Him flow through his work. Beginning with the majesty of Isaiah 6, when he beheld the Throne of God and with it his commitment "Here am I Lord, send me," he does not waver from his task. Israel had forgotten who they were and who their God was. Isaiah brought them face to face with their destiny. This destiny was fulfilled in the last chapter, as their Great and Good God stepped in and once again caused His people to flourish. Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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