JESUS' First & Second Coming (Is.8-9)

Isaiah receives another message from the LORD after the land of Judah had rejected God's help...

(Isaiah 8:6-7a)  “Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoice in Rezin and the son of Remaliah;
7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord is about to bring on them the strong and abundant waters of the Euphrates..."

God likens His help to the "gently flowing waters of Shiloah" (which was a healing spring in Jerusalem).  And because the people rejected Gods healing help - He was going to use a fairly deep flood to bring death and destruction to the land of Assyria and Judah.  YET, God still always desires that we look to Him to be saved!  So right after God describes the punishment that is coming, God adds a message of what to do for the people who will choose God...

(Isaiah 8:9-11)  “Be broken, O peoples, and be shattered;
And give ear, all remote places of the earth...  10  ...For God is with us.”  11  For thus the Lord spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people..."

After God has given Isaiah the entire message, this is (part of) Isaiah's response...

(Isaiah 8:16-19)  Bind up the testimony, seal the aw among my disciples. 17 And I will wait for the Lord who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.  19 When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God?  Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah doesn't mind how long it takes for God to answer.  No matter what, Isaiah knows to wait on the LORD and obey Him - NOT to consult mediums and spiritists, etc. - but rather consult the living God who is all-powerful.  God's words will stand the test of time.  Because God is all-knowing, the prophecies from God are truth and become reality.  Within Isaiah's response are a few prophecies of Jesus...

(Isaiah 9:1-2)  But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.  The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

We see this prophecy being fulfilled later...

(Matthew 4:12-16)  Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.  14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:  15  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—  16  “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.”

As well, Isaiah gave another prophecy...

(Isaiah 9:6)  For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;  And the government will rest on His shoulders;  And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 

We know this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus came to earth the first time as 100% God and in flesh as 100% man...

(Luke 2:10-11)  ...the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord..."

Isaiah followed that with another prophecy which is still to happen...

(Isaiah 9:7)  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

This is referring to Jesus's Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant - when He sits on the throne during the Millennium.  This prophecy was repeated when the angel gave Mary the news...

(Luke 1:31-33)  "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Jesus is the light.  When we choose to abide in His Light, Jesus is our salvation.

(1 John 2:1-11)  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

JESUS, and the Sign (Is.7)

In chapter 7 of Isaiah, we have a double prophecy.  The sign that God gave to king Ahaz applied to both the present time (back then) as well as the future...

(Isaiah 7:10-14)  Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”  12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” 13 Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?  14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel..."

It is true that we should never test God, but Ahaz made that statement thinking he would just sound pious enough to trick God, since Ahaz was actually going to make Syria an alliance (trusting in man's power and not God's power).  Therefore God gave Ahaz a unique sign, so that when that happened along side the devastation of Israel - he'd see God's power and realize he should have trusted God instead.  What happened back then (just before Israel's devastation) was - Isaiah's first wife died after giving birth to a child, so he remarried and his young bride then had a baby to raise.

Just like the sinfulness of Ahaz needed addressing, all mankind are sinners and need a Savior to be their Light to follow.  Therefore what it meant later (in the future for Ahaz and Isarel, etc.)  was literal:

(Matthew 1:18-23)  Now the birth of Jesus [r]Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

A virgin birth was critical to authentically give the 100% human aspect to Jesus, as well as to be born into king David's lineage.  And to be of the Holy Spirit was critical to authentically demonstrate that Jesus is 100% God.  Jesus came with the specific purpose to provide salvation.

(Galatians 4:4-5)  But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

JESUS and Teaching (Is.2)

I'm trying to resist the urge of going into the topic of eschatology.  Perhaps that needs to be my focus for the next Bible-read-through.  Obviously there is a lot of overlap, but until then - I just want to focus on JESUS - Son of God, and only when it is very obvious.  I know from context that Isaiah 2 is speaking about Jesus, but I'll only focus on the first five verses.

(Isaiah 2:1-4)  The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills;  and all the nations will stream to it.
3 And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;  that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.”  For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples;  and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.

These verses are definitely speaking about the LORD - Jesus - being physically here on the EARTH with the people.  It is a description of how it will be when Jesus sits on the throne during the Millennium.  How cool to be able to go visit Jesus and ask Him questions - face to face - and then get peaceful results because everyone is sticking to His advice!!!

Until then we can seek His face by reading the Bible and praying and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us.  All answers to every question are found in the Bible.  It doesn't matter what age or era we are in.  The Bible is timeless and applicable because God is timeless, and all-knowing, and created everything with purpose.  So Isaiah encouraged the Israelites (in that present time) to...

(Isaiah 2:5)  Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

And this encouragement applies to us right now.  When we become Christians, we receive the Light.

(John 8:12)  Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

And when we walk in the Light (be obedient to God's words) we will experience peace...

(1 John 1:7)  ...if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

And we learn more about God's Light - by reading His word - the Bible...

(Psalm 119:105)  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

JESUS and Cleansing (Is.1)

Isaiah had a vision and began with describing the sinfulness of the Israelites.

(Isaiah 4:4)  Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly!  They have abandoned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him.

Isaiah even compared the Israelites to farm animals.  (Interesting side note:  because people used donkeys to travel, it was PROBABLY a donkey who eventually brought the soon-to-be-born Messiah to Bethlehem's manger.  Curious!!!)

(Isaiah 1:1-2)  Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; for the Lord speaks, “Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me.  3 An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.”

The Israelites had strayed so far away from God that God had left a few survivors!  Although, this shows how patient God is.  As well, how faithful God is, because God made a promise to Abraham and his descendants, and therefore does not get rid of them completely.

(Isaiah 1:9)  Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would be like Gomorrah.

This quote is used in the New Testament to refer to the Christian Jews (in the Church Age)...

(Romans 9:27-29)  Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” 29 And just as Isaiah foretold,

“Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity, we would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah.”

And in the Tribulation, God will seal the 144,000 Israelites in order to preserve the people through the days of wrath in order to fulfill the covenant to them in the Millennium...

(Matthew 24:21-22)  For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

So back to the book of Isaiah.  The Israelites had strayed so far away from God that God hated their sacrifices to Him because they were not believers and they were not sincere in their practices...

(Isaiah 1:11-15)   “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord.  “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle;  and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
12 “When you come to appear before Me,  who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me.  New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me;  I am weary of bearing them.
15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.  Your hands are covered with blood..."

Now the prophecy turns to what we should be doing, even now...

(Isaiah 1:16-20) “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;  remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.  Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow;  though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.
19 “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”  Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Among the verses above is a definition of salvation through Jesus.  Jesus will wash our sins away when we ask for forgiveness.  When we become Christians - we are (right then) completely "clean", meaning, we are children of God and nothing can undo that.  Although, we will still sin, so we must continually ask Jesus to "clean up" those sins for a better relationship (in a relationship that we already have)...

(John 13:3-10)  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself,  5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean..."

For us as Christians, let us continually clean up our act...

(1 John 1:9)  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

After the rapture and during the Tribulation, when the Israelites see their "signs" that their Messiah (Jesus) is coming (for the second time), and they then believe and turn obediently to Him...

(Isaiah 1:27-28)  Zion will be redeemed with justice and her repentant ones with righteousness.  28 But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together,
And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.  

But do not think one can just wait... Why not be clean now.  Believe in Jesus now.

JESUS our Savior (Proverbs 30)

There is one verse in Proverbs 30 that gives a bit of insight into Jesus...

(Proverbs 30:1-3)  The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.

The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man.
3 Neither have I learned wisdom, nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

Theologians think that "Agur" is probably Solomon, but there is no proof of this.  But it doesn't really matter.  This guy seems to be very humble.  And for a "stupid" guy, he's pretty wise, actually.  In just one tiny portion of scripture, he gives great insight into Jesus...

(Proverbs 30:4a)  Who has ascended into heaven and descended?

In the Old Testament, we've already established that God would manifest Himself on earth for people to see (this being the "Son" of the Trinity - THE angel of the LORD - "Jesus" of the Old Testament - but never in "flesh", but in the form of a man, etc...) and people hearing or seeing the scriptures from past events would have known this.  Now, in the New Testament, we find these verses...

John 3:13  No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

And...

(Ephesians 4:8-10)  Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

The first time "Jesus" came to earth in flesh - it was to die in our place for all our sins and rise again to provide victory over death and eternal salvation for anyone who chooses to believe and put their faith in Him.

The end of verse 4 is also very interesting...

(Proverbs 30:4c)  What is His name or His son’s name?  Surely you know!

This "name"-thing is a reference that is used regarding Jesus when He is descending at His Second Coming - at the Battle of Armageddon...

(Revelation 19:11-13)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Jesus accomplished the work on the cross, and Jesus will come again to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant!  The next two verses give weight to what is said.  It is something to always keep in mind...

(Proverbs 30:5-6)  Every word of God is tested;  He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  6 Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.