ISAIAH 66
OPENS WITH: REJOICING IN GOD'S ULTIMATE VICTORY & THE LORD WILL REPAY HIS ENEMIES...
Verse 1-2 tells us the GREATNESS of God, and the PROPER response of man.
"Thus says the LORD: "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? 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."
Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool...
Here, the LORD puts things back into proper perspective. We can never understand much of anything until we understand that the Lord GOD is enthroned in heaven, and that the earth is UNDER His command - indeed, the earth is His footstool!
REMEMBER Stephen quoted Isaiah 66:1-2 in Acts 7:49-50, agreeing with Solomon and Isaiah about the greatness of God the Creator.
Where is the house that you will build Me? … But on this one I will look: on Him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
We may WANT to serve God - but serve Him OUR way.
We may WANT to build God something, but what can we build that is worthy of God?
Instead, what God REALLY WANTS from us is a poor and a contrite spirit, and to tremble at His word.
Contrite is literally "'lamed' or disabled, here used with spiritual significance: one who is aware of the damage wrought by sin, of personal inability to stand upright before God in our OWN right.
Verses 3-4 tells us God's answer to EMPTY religious ritual.
"He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; he who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine's blood; he who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. 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."
THIS SCRIPTURE RIGHT HERE IS THE MOST BLUNT AND CRYSTAL CLEAR STATEMENT FROM THE LORD ABOUT HOW HE FEELS ABOUT MAN-CREATED POMP, CIRCUMSTANCE, ROTE MUTTERINGS, AND IDOL WORSHIP...THEY ARE EVIL AND ABOMINATIONS IN HIS EYES.
NOW WE MORE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE PLEA OF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF IN REVELATION, WHEN HE PLEADS WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM..."COME OUT OF HER OH MY PEOPLE!"
MAN CREATED RITUALS, GENUFLECTING, ROTE MUTTERINGS, PRAYING TO STATUES, CLINGING TO MAN-CREATED IMAGES ARE CONSIDERED EVIL AND ABOMINATIONS IN HIS EYES.
He who kills a bull as if he slays a man...
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THIS:
In the empty religious ritualism, God's people thought they were pleasing God. But the LORD says that when a man kills a bull in sacrifice, it is as if he slays a man. Their religious ritualism ADDS to their sin, it DOES NOT ATONE OR take it away!
Just as they have chosen their own ways … so will I choose their delusions:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
God's people CHOSE their OWN IDEAS OF WORSHIP, PRAYER, RITUALS, SACRIFICES...AND ALL WERE AND ARE rebellion against Him, and they persisted in it despite His continual warnings. As an extreme display of judgment, God will choose their delusions and send a delusion among them.
This is a sobering reminder of what God will do on the earth during the Great Tribulation, as described by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:11: "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie."
But what will happen during the Great Tribulation is just the ultimate fruit of what God does all the time among men. When we reject God and seek our own delusion, He may send one to us.
IN THIS DAY, THE HOLY BIBLE, THE REAL BIBLE IS READILY AVAILABLE TO MANKIND, BUT MANKIND HAS CHOSEN TO STUDY, TRUST IN THE DIFFERENT RELIGIOSITIES EDITTED, OMITTED, AND RECREATED VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE.
ONE DELUSION GIVEN TO MANKIND TODAY IS POPE FRANCIS, WHO NOW IS DECLARING EVEN THEIR OWN LONG HELD BELIEFS ARE NO LONGER REALLY VALID...GAYS CAN INTERMARRY AND CONTINUE IN THEIR CHOSEN SEXUAL PREFERENCES AND THAT IS FINE WITH GOD, THEY STILL GO TO HEAVEN. JUST AS MUSLIM TERRORISTS, PEDOFILES, ATHEISTS, AGNOSTICS ARE WELCOMED IN THE CHURCH, SO THEY WILL BE WELCOMED INTO HEAVEN..
ANOTHER EXAMPLE of this kind of delusion are those who believe that the world was created out of nothing or by chance. What could be more delusional than to believe that something can come from nothing? To believe that CHANCE actually has some kind of "power"? Yet for those who insist on believing it, God will give them over to this delusion.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE of this kind of delusion is NO MORAL ABSOLUTES...GOD GAVE MOSES 10 COMMANDMENTS, AND IF SAVED AND LOST MANKIND OBEYED THEM, THE WORLD IN ITSELF WOULD BE BETTER PLACE TO LIVE...BUT THE WORLD NOW BELIEVES...LIVE AND LET LIVE...CHOOSE YOUR OWN RULES, OBEY OR IGNORE THE LAWS OF MAN AND GOD...THAT IS FREEDOM...THAT IS YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS...AND WE SEE MORE AND MORE TODAY...WHAT THE LACK OF HEARING, MUCH LESS OBEYING THE LAWS OF GOD HAS WROUGHT MANKIND, AMEN?!
Because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear...
How can we keep from being given over to a delusion? By answering the LORD when He calls, by hearing Him when He speaks. It's really that simple. AND THE LORD HAS PLACED WITHIN EVERY HEART AND MIND THE INNATE KNOWLEDGE OF CREATOR GOD...BUT IT MUST BE NURTURED...IT MUST BE SOUGHT...IT MUST BE LISTENED TOO. THEN WHY DO SO MANY REJECT AND IGNORE THAT VOICE, THAT SENSE OF KNOWING, WHEN THEY LOOK AT A SUNSET, A MOUNTAIN, THE OCEAN, THE NIGHT DARK SKY, THE SOUND OF CHILDREN'S LAUGHTER, THE BIRTH OF NEW LIFE...
ONE OF THE BEST REASONS HOW ANYONE CAN IGNORE ALMIGHTY GOD AS CREATOR AND DISMISS HIS VOICE...IS WHAT WE HEAR SERIAL KILLERS AND HIT MEN AND TERRORISTS SAY OVER AND OVER....THE FIRST TIME IS THE HARDEST...BUT AFTER THAT...THE MORE YOU DO IT...THE LESS IT BOTHERS YOU...AND THAT IS THE SAME WAY WITH MANKIND TOWARD THE LORD...YOU KEEP IGNORING...YOU KEEP DISMISSING...YOU KEEP REJECTING...AND YOU WILL COME A STONY HEART, DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND, AMEN?!
Verses 5-6 tells us The LORD repays His enemies.
"Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: "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." The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, who fully repays His enemies!"
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."
RIGHT HERE, THE LORD SHOWS & TELLS ISAIAH how those with a shallow, empty religion mock those of genuine faith.
FIRST, empty religion HATES genuine faith (hated you).
SECOND, empty religion REJECTS true faith (cast you out).
THIRD, empty religion BRAZENLY SAYS, TEACHES, AND ACTS in the name of the LORD (for My name's sake).
FOURTH, empty religion MOCKS with spiritual sounding words ("Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy").
But they shall be ashamed...
Most importantly, empty religion WILL NEVER ultimately triumph. At the end of days, if not before, they shall be ashamed, when they hear the voice of the LORD, who fully repays His enemies!
Verses 7-11 tells us Rejoicing in the deliverance of Jerusalem.
"Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? 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. "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. Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; 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."
Before she travailed, she gave birth...
Isaiah prophesies a day when the victory will come easily to Jerusalem, when she will be as the promise of Romans 8:37, "more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Here, she gives birth - but without pain! Truly, who has heard such a thing?
Rejoice with Jerusalem...
All God's people are called to share in Jerusalem's joy. The time of deliverance, victory, and vindication have come! Be glad with her, all you who love her! If God's people will do this, it will be a blessing for them also: that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom.
ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE...is important for TWO REASONS.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO TWIST THE SCRIPTURE AND WRONGLY TEACH THAT ALL OF MANKIND ARE GOD'S PEOPLE...GOD'S CHILDREN...THAT IS A LIE STRAIGHT FROM THE PIT.
WE ARE ALL GOD'S CREATION...BUT ALL OF MANKIND IS NOT GOD'S PEOPLE...GOD'S CHILDREN.
GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE ARE THE NATION OF ISRAEL. GOD'S PEOPLE, HIS CHILDREN, ARE THOSE JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE, WHO HAVE CALLED UPON JESUS CHRIST, WHO BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD, AND WHO INVITE GOD'S SON JESUS CHRIST INTO THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES TO BE THEIR LORD, SAVIOR, MASTER, AND FRIEND.
Verses 12-17 tells us The LORD comes in judgment.
"For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; on her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies. 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. "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together," says the LORD."
Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river...
When the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, when HE SPLITS THE SKY, APPEARS TO THE WORLD, AND STEPS DOWN ON MOUNT ZION, AT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON, THEN the peace of Jerusalem will be like a gentle, powerful river that is never disturbed. But not Jerusalem alone: And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you...
God speaks with supreme tenderness to His faithful servants. No one can comfort like a mother, and God will bring that kind of comfort to His people.
CHARLES SPURGEON says it well..."This is a peculiarly delightful metaphor. A father can comfort, but I think he is not much at home as the work. When God speaks about his pity, he compares himself to their father: 'Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth, them that fear him.' But when he speaks about comfort, he selects the mother. When I have seen the little ones sick, I have felt all the pity in the world for them, but I did not know how to set to work to comfort them; but a mother knows by instinct how to do it."
The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies...
When the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, for some it will be a great blessing - and for others it is be nothing but judgment. Indeed, the LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens, after an idol in the midst...
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
When the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, He will see through those who practice empty religion. They "shall be consumed together," says the LORD.
Verses 18-21 tells us The LORD gathers and restores His people.
"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 will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory...
God has promised a great regathering work among Israel; but He will also do a regathering work among the whole world, some from all nations and tongues to see His glory.
AND REMEMBER REVELATION 5:9-10, CONFIRMS One place this finds ultimate fulfillment is around the throne of God.
AND REMEMBER MATTHEW 24:30...God says that He will set a sign among the nations. This sign is the same as the sign of the Son of man.
Those among them who escape I will send to the nations … to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory...
AND RIGHT HERE, THE LORD SHOWS ISAIAH THE FUTURE, AND ISAIAH IS MAKING A prophetic reference to the missionary calling and work of God's people.
Of course, God had a missionary intent for Israel, that they would be a priesthood among the nations told to us in Exodus 19:6. And a light to the Gentiles. But even more pointedly, God has commanded the church to the nations, to declare My glory among the Gentiles.
BULTEMA, REMINDS US OF THIS NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT, "They are sent to Tarshish (Spain, France and Italy) to Pul (a region in Africa) and to Lud, which according to some is the same as Lydia, though it seems preferable to take Pul and Lud together for all of Africa. Tubal was a son of Japheth, whose descendants settled in north-eastern Europe or Russia and Javan is the biblical name for Greece."
AND WE KNOW IN A LIMITED SENSE, this is fulfilled by the missionary outreach of the church through centuries. But this is only a partial fulfillment. Ultimately, ISAIAH IS SEEING AND REFERRING TO the 144,000 witnesses during the Great Tribulation.
Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations...
As part of God's ultimate work, as the missionaries go out, the people of Israel ultimately come back, in a magnificent regathering. This is partially fulfilled now in the Israel's regathered state; but will be ultimately fulfilled in the millennial earth of the Messiah.
And I will take some of them for priests and Levites...
The idea is that in that day, God will extend the priesthood beyond its previous boundaries. This is ultimately fulfilled in the church, because saints are called priests told to us in 1 Peter 2:5-9, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6.
MOTYER, explains it well, "Just as in Isaiah's day only some were priests and Levites, but through them Israel was constituted as the Lord's priestly people, so now he foresees Gentiles incorporated on equal terms, into equal privileges."
Verses 22-24 tells us The certainty of the both the LORD's judgment and His restoration.
"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. 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. "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."
And it shall come to pass … all flesh shall come to worship before Me...
Here, God describes His ULTIMATE triumph. Through the majestic book of Isaiah, the nations have been judged and often condemned. But God has an ultimate plan to reach the nations, seen in its ultimate fulfillment in Revelation 5:9-10. God will take people from every tribe and tongue, and "all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.
Isaiah puts it into context of from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come and to worship before Me.
Significantly, WE REMEMBER Isaiah began the book with a condemnation of the shallow worship of God's people at the time of the New Moons and Sabbaths (Isaiah 1:12-15).
Now, after the greatness of the LORD's work, all that is different.
And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me...
Some from every tribe and tongue will have a destiny of ultimate triumph; some also will have the destiny - freely chosen - of ultimate tragedy.
Using the images of eternal damnation (their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched), Isaiah describes the fate of those who reject God - even if they had the veneer of empty religion.
AND WE KNOW...ISAIAH WAS BETRAYED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE, AND MARTYRED FOR SPEAKING ALL THESE WARNINGS, PROMISES, PLEADINGS, AND REVELATIONS FROM ALMIGHTY GOD, JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT PERSONALLY.
THE BOOK OF ISAIAH IS VERY IMPORTANT....FOR IT PROPHESIES, SPEAKS TO, AND TELLS ALL OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE, AND THOSE TODAY WHO REFUSE TO READ AND REJECT THE NEW TESTAMENT...EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...AT THE RAPTURE...AT THE GREAT TRIBULATION...AT THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF JESUS ON THE EARTH...AND OF THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT...AND OF THE NEW JERUSALEM AND THE NEW EARTH AFTER SATAN, SIN, AND DEATH AND THE REJECTING OF THIS WORLD CHOOSE TO REJECT JESUS CHRIST, AND ULTIMATELY CHOOSE THE LAKE OF FIRE ETERNITY.
AND ISAIAH WAS SHOWN ALL THIS, GIVEN ALL THIS...700+ YEARS BEFORE JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN IN A HUMBLE MANGER IN BETHLEHEM, AND ALMOST 800 YEARS BEFORE JOHN, SAW AND WAS GIVEN THE BOOK OF REVELATION BY JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
THE NATION OF ISRAEL HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR AND WAITING FOR THEIR MESSIAH...HAD THEY READ ISAIAH...THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN HIM WHEN HE CAME.
HAD THE DISCIPLES READ ISAIAH...THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT JESUS WOULD BE CRUCIFIED, AND WHERE HE WOULD RECEIVE HIS WOUNDS...AND THEY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN AT THE TOMB....WAITING AND WATCHING FOR HIS RESURRECTION THAT JESUS HIMSELF TOLD AND SHOWED ISAIAH...INSTEAD OF HIDING AND IN DESPAIR.
AND FOR US TODAY, WHO READ, STUDY, AND SEE THAT ALL ISAIAH WAS SHOWN, PROMISED, AND TOLD DID IN FACT HAPPEN EXACTLY AS THE TRIUNE GOD SHOWED HIM AND PROMISED...
JESUS CHRIST DID COME...HE WALKED AMONG MANKIND...HE WAS CRUCIFIED...HE DID RISE FROM THE GRAVE...HE LIVES...HE REIGNS...AND HE IS COMING BACK FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM...THE RAPTURE IS COMING...IT WILL HAPPEN...THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS REAL AND LITERAL...AND THE LORD JESUS WILL COME BACK AND RESCUE ISRAEL AND BELIEVERS IN THAT DAY....HE WILL REIGN OVER THE ENTIRE EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS....THEIR WILL BE ULTIMATE JUDGMENT FOR THE REJECTING...AND THEY WILL CHOOSE SATAN, HIS DEMONS, AND THE LAKE OF FIRE ETERNITY...
IT IS NOT SPIRITUAL, OR METAPHORICAL, OR POETIC...IT IS ABSOLUTELY LITERAL...IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND REAL.
The book of Isaiah closes with a sobering contrast, revealing the ultimate, eternal importance of this present life.
ALMIGHTY GOD GAVE MANKIND FREE WILL CHOOSE IN THIS LIFE AND THE ONE TO COME.
MANKIND MUST CHOOSE...MANKIND WILL CHOOSE.. NO CHOICE...DISMISSING, REJECTING IS A CHOICE.
IT IS CHOOSING AN ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.
ISAIAH ASKS....ALMIGHTY GOD ASKS...JESUS CHRIST ASKS...
WHAT WILL YOUR CHOICE BE?
CALL UPON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND HIM ALONE, WHILE YOU MAY...TOMORROW IS PROMISED TO NONE...TODAY IS THE DAY UNTO SALVATION. THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES ONCE WE BREATHE OUR LAST...AND OUR HEART STOPS.
Each life can choose its destiny: worship or the worm. Which is it for you?
ISAIAH 66OPENS WITH: REJOICING IN GOD'S ULTIMATE VICTORY & THE LORD WILL REPAY HIS ENEMIES...Verse 1-2 tells us the GREATNESS of God, and the PROPER response of man."Thus says the LORD: "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? 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."Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool...Here, the LORD puts things back into proper perspective. We can never understand much of anything until we understand that the Lord GOD is enthroned in heaven, and that the earth is UNDER His command - indeed, the earth is His footstool!REMEMBER Stephen quoted Isaiah 66:1-2 in Acts 7:49-50, agreeing with Solomon and Isaiah about the greatness of God the Creator.Where is the house that you will build Me? … But on this one I will look: on Him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word:WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?We may WANT to serve God - but serve Him OUR way.We may WANT to build God something, but what can we build that is worthy of God?Instead, what God REALLY WANTS from us is a poor and a contrite spirit, and to tremble at His word.Contrite is literally "'lamed' or disabled, here used with spiritual significance: one who is aware of the damage wrought by sin, of personal inability to stand upright before God in our OWN right.Verses 3-4 tells us God's answer to EMPTY religious ritual."He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; he who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine's blood; he who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. 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."THIS SCRIPTURE RIGHT HERE IS THE MOST BLUNT AND CRYSTAL CLEAR STATEMENT FROM THE LORD ABOUT HOW HE FEELS ABOUT MAN-CREATED POMP, CIRCUMSTANCE, ROTE MUTTERINGS, AND IDOL WORSHIP...THEY ARE EVIL AND ABOMINATIONS IN HIS EYES.NOW WE MORE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE PLEA OF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF IN REVELATION, WHEN HE PLEADS WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM..."COME OUT OF HER OH MY PEOPLE!"MAN CREATED RITUALS, GENUFLECTING, ROTE MUTTERINGS, PRAYING TO STATUES, CLINGING TO MAN-CREATED IMAGES ARE CONSIDERED EVIL AND ABOMINATIONS IN HIS EYES.He who kills a bull as if he slays a man...WHAT THIS MEANS IS THIS:In the empty religious ritualism, God's people thought they were pleasing God. But the LORD says that when a man kills a bull in sacrifice, it is as if he slays a man. Their religious ritualism ADDS to their sin, it DOES NOT ATONE OR take it away!Just as they have chosen their own ways … so will I choose their delusions:WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?God's people CHOSE their OWN IDEAS OF WORSHIP, PRAYER, RITUALS, SACRIFICES...AND ALL WERE AND ARE rebellion against Him, and they persisted in it despite His continual warnings. As an extreme display of judgment, God will choose their delusions and send a delusion among them.This is a sobering reminder of what God will do on the earth during the Great Tribulation, as described by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:11: "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie."But what will happen during the Great Tribulation is just the ultimate fruit of what God does all the time among men. When we reject God and seek our own delusion, He may send one to us.IN THIS DAY, THE HOLY BIBLE, THE REAL BIBLE IS READILY AVAILABLE TO MANKIND, BUT MANKIND HAS CHOSEN TO STUDY, TRUST IN THE DIFFERENT RELIGIOSITIES EDITTED, OMITTED, AND RECREATED VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE.ONE DELUSION GIVEN TO MANKIND TODAY IS POPE FRANCIS, WHO NOW IS DECLARING EVEN THEIR OWN LONG HELD BELIEFS ARE NO LONGER REALLY VALID...GAYS CAN INTERMARRY AND CONTINUE IN THEIR CHOSEN SEXUAL PREFERENCES AND THAT IS FINE WITH GOD, THEY STILL GO TO HEAVEN. JUST AS MUSLIM TERRORISTS, PEDOFILES, ATHEISTS, AGNOSTICS ARE WELCOMED IN THE CHURCH, SO THEY WILL BE WELCOMED INTO HEAVEN..ANOTHER EXAMPLE of this kind of delusion are those who believe that the world was created out of nothing or by chance. What could be more delusional than to believe that something can come from nothing? To believe that CHANCE actually has some kind of "power"? Yet for those who insist on believing it, God will give them over to this delusion.ANOTHER EXAMPLE of this kind of delusion is NO MORAL ABSOLUTES...GOD GAVE MOSES 10 COMMANDMENTS, AND IF SAVED AND LOST MANKIND OBEYED THEM, THE WORLD IN ITSELF WOULD BE BETTER PLACE TO LIVE...BUT THE WORLD NOW BELIEVES...LIVE AND LET LIVE...CHOOSE YOUR OWN RULES, OBEY OR IGNORE THE LAWS OF MAN AND GOD...THAT IS FREEDOM...THAT IS YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS...AND WE SEE MORE AND MORE TODAY...WHAT THE LACK OF HEARING, MUCH LESS OBEYING THE LAWS OF GOD HAS WROUGHT MANKIND, AMEN?!Because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear...How can we keep from being given over to a delusion? By answering the LORD when He calls, by hearing Him when He speaks. It's really that simple. AND THE LORD HAS PLACED WITHIN EVERY HEART AND MIND THE INNATE KNOWLEDGE OF CREATOR GOD...BUT IT MUST BE NURTURED...IT MUST BE SOUGHT...IT MUST BE LISTENED TOO. THEN WHY DO SO MANY REJECT AND IGNORE THAT VOICE, THAT SENSE OF KNOWING, WHEN THEY LOOK AT A SUNSET, A MOUNTAIN, THE OCEAN, THE NIGHT DARK SKY, THE SOUND OF CHILDREN'S LAUGHTER, THE BIRTH OF NEW LIFE...ONE OF THE BEST REASONS HOW ANYONE CAN IGNORE ALMIGHTY GOD AS CREATOR AND DISMISS HIS VOICE...IS WHAT WE HEAR SERIAL KILLERS AND HIT MEN AND TERRORISTS SAY OVER AND OVER....THE FIRST TIME IS THE HARDEST...BUT AFTER THAT...THE MORE YOU DO IT...THE LESS IT BOTHERS YOU...AND THAT IS THE SAME WAY WITH MANKIND TOWARD THE LORD...YOU KEEP IGNORING...YOU KEEP DISMISSING...YOU KEEP REJECTING...AND YOU WILL COME A STONY HEART, DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND, AMEN?!Verses 5-6 tells us The LORD repays His enemies."Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: "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." The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, who fully repays His enemies!"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."RIGHT HERE, THE LORD SHOWS & TELLS ISAIAH how those with a shallow, empty religion mock those of genuine faith.FIRST, empty religion HATES genuine faith (hated you).SECOND, empty religion REJECTS true faith (cast you out).THIRD, empty religion BRAZENLY SAYS, TEACHES, AND ACTS in the name of the LORD (for My name's sake).FOURTH, empty religion MOCKS with spiritual sounding words ("Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy").But they shall be ashamed...Most importantly, empty religion WILL NEVER ultimately triumph. At the end of days, if not before, they shall be ashamed, when they hear the voice of the LORD, who fully repays His enemies!Verses 7-11 tells us Rejoicing in the deliverance of Jerusalem."Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? 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. "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. Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; 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."Before she travailed, she gave birth...Isaiah prophesies a day when the victory will come easily to Jerusalem, when she will be as the promise of Romans 8:37, "more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Here, she gives birth - but without pain! Truly, who has heard such a thing?Rejoice with Jerusalem...All God's people are called to share in Jerusalem's joy. The time of deliverance, victory, and vindication have come! Be glad with her, all you who love her! If God's people will do this, it will be a blessing for them also: that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom.ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE...is important for TWO REASONS.THERE ARE THOSE WHO TWIST THE SCRIPTURE AND WRONGLY TEACH THAT ALL OF MANKIND ARE GOD'S PEOPLE...GOD'S CHILDREN...THAT IS A LIE STRAIGHT FROM THE PIT.WE ARE ALL GOD'S CREATION...BUT ALL OF MANKIND IS NOT GOD'S PEOPLE...GOD'S CHILDREN.GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE ARE THE NATION OF ISRAEL. GOD'S PEOPLE, HIS CHILDREN, ARE THOSE JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE, WHO HAVE CALLED UPON JESUS CHRIST, WHO BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD, AND WHO INVITE GOD'S SON JESUS CHRIST INTO THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES TO BE THEIR LORD, SAVIOR, MASTER, AND FRIEND.Verses 12-17 tells us The LORD comes in judgment."For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; on her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies. 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. "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together," says the LORD."Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river...When the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, when HE SPLITS THE SKY, APPEARS TO THE WORLD, AND STEPS DOWN ON MOUNT ZION, AT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON, THEN the peace of Jerusalem will be like a gentle, powerful river that is never disturbed. But not Jerusalem alone: And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you...God speaks with supreme tenderness to His faithful servants. No one can comfort like a mother, and God will bring that kind of comfort to His people.CHARLES SPURGEON says it well..."This is a peculiarly delightful metaphor. A father can comfort, but I think he is not much at home as the work. When God speaks about his pity, he compares himself to their father: 'Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth, them that fear him.' But when he speaks about comfort, he selects the mother. When I have seen the little ones sick, I have felt all the pity in the world for them, but I did not know how to set to work to comfort them; but a mother knows by instinct how to do it."The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies...When the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, for some it will be a great blessing - and for others it is be nothing but judgment. Indeed, the LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many.Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens, after an idol in the midst...WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?When the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, He will see through those who practice empty religion. They "shall be consumed together," says the LORD.Verses 18-21 tells us The LORD gathers and restores His people."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 will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory...God has promised a great regathering work among Israel; but He will also do a regathering work among the whole world, some from all nations and tongues to see His glory.AND REMEMBER REVELATION 5:9-10, CONFIRMS One place this finds ultimate fulfillment is around the throne of God.AND REMEMBER MATTHEW 24:30...God says that He will set a sign among the nations. This sign is the same as the sign of the Son of man.Those among them who escape I will send to the nations … to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory...AND RIGHT HERE, THE LORD SHOWS ISAIAH THE FUTURE, AND ISAIAH IS MAKING A prophetic reference to the missionary calling and work of God's people.Of course, God had a missionary intent for Israel, that they would be a priesthood among the nations told to us in Exodus 19:6. And a light to the Gentiles. But even more pointedly, God has commanded the church to the nations, to declare My glory among the Gentiles.BULTEMA, REMINDS US OF THIS NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT, "They are sent to Tarshish (Spain, France and Italy) to Pul (a region in Africa) and to Lud, which according to some is the same as Lydia, though it seems preferable to take Pul and Lud together for all of Africa. Tubal was a son of Japheth, whose descendants settled in north-eastern Europe or Russia and Javan is the biblical name for Greece."AND WE KNOW IN A LIMITED SENSE, this is fulfilled by the missionary outreach of the church through centuries. But this is only a partial fulfillment. Ultimately, ISAIAH IS SEEING AND REFERRING TO the 144,000 witnesses during the Great Tribulation.Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations...As part of God's ultimate work, as the missionaries go out, the people of Israel ultimately come back, in a magnificent regathering. This is partially fulfilled now in the Israel's regathered state; but will be ultimately fulfilled in the millennial earth of the Messiah.And I will take some of them for priests and Levites...The idea is that in that day, God will extend the priesthood beyond its previous boundaries. This is ultimately fulfilled in the church, because saints are called priests told to us in 1 Peter 2:5-9, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6.MOTYER, explains it well, "Just as in Isaiah's day only some were priests and Levites, but through them Israel was constituted as the Lord's priestly people, so now he foresees Gentiles incorporated on equal terms, into equal privileges."Verses 22-24 tells us The certainty of the both the LORD's judgment and His restoration."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. 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. "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."And it shall come to pass … all flesh shall come to worship before Me...Here, God describes His ULTIMATE triumph. Through the majestic book of Isaiah, the nations have been judged and often condemned. But God has an ultimate plan to reach the nations, seen in its ultimate fulfillment in Revelation 5:9-10. God will take people from every tribe and tongue, and "all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.Isaiah puts it into context of from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come and to worship before Me.Significantly, WE REMEMBER Isaiah began the book with a condemnation of the shallow worship of God's people at the time of the New Moons and Sabbaths (Isaiah 1:12-15).Now, after the greatness of the LORD's work, all that is different.And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me...Some from every tribe and tongue will have a destiny of ultimate triumph; some also will have the destiny - freely chosen - of ultimate tragedy.Using the images of eternal damnation (their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched), Isaiah describes the fate of those who reject God - even if they had the veneer of empty religion.AND WE KNOW...ISAIAH WAS BETRAYED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE, AND MARTYRED FOR SPEAKING ALL THESE WARNINGS, PROMISES, PLEADINGS, AND REVELATIONS FROM ALMIGHTY GOD, JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT PERSONALLY.THE BOOK OF ISAIAH IS VERY IMPORTANT....FOR IT PROPHESIES, SPEAKS TO, AND TELLS ALL OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE, AND THOSE TODAY WHO REFUSE TO READ AND REJECT THE NEW TESTAMENT...EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...AT THE RAPTURE...AT THE GREAT TRIBULATION...AT THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF JESUS ON THE EARTH...AND OF THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT...AND OF THE NEW JERUSALEM AND THE NEW EARTH AFTER SATAN, SIN, AND DEATH AND THE REJECTING OF THIS WORLD CHOOSE TO REJECT JESUS CHRIST, AND ULTIMATELY CHOOSE THE LAKE OF FIRE ETERNITY.AND ISAIAH WAS SHOWN ALL THIS, GIVEN ALL THIS...700+ YEARS BEFORE JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN IN A HUMBLE MANGER IN BETHLEHEM, AND ALMOST 800 YEARS BEFORE JOHN, SAW AND WAS GIVEN THE BOOK OF REVELATION BY JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.THE NATION OF ISRAEL HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR AND WAITING FOR THEIR MESSIAH...HAD THEY READ ISAIAH...THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN HIM WHEN HE CAME.HAD THE DISCIPLES READ ISAIAH...THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT JESUS WOULD BE CRUCIFIED, AND WHERE HE WOULD RECEIVE HIS WOUNDS...AND THEY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN AT THE TOMB....WAITING AND WATCHING FOR HIS RESURRECTION THAT JESUS HIMSELF TOLD AND SHOWED ISAIAH...INSTEAD OF HIDING AND IN DESPAIR.AND FOR US TODAY, WHO READ, STUDY, AND SEE THAT ALL ISAIAH WAS SHOWN, PROMISED, AND TOLD DID IN FACT HAPPEN EXACTLY AS THE TRIUNE GOD SHOWED HIM AND PROMISED...JESUS CHRIST DID COME...HE WALKED AMONG MANKIND...HE WAS CRUCIFIED...HE DID RISE FROM THE GRAVE...HE LIVES...HE REIGNS...AND HE IS COMING BACK FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM...THE RAPTURE IS COMING...IT WILL HAPPEN...THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS REAL AND LITERAL...AND THE LORD JESUS WILL COME BACK AND RESCUE ISRAEL AND BELIEVERS IN THAT DAY....HE WILL REIGN OVER THE ENTIRE EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS....THEIR WILL BE ULTIMATE JUDGMENT FOR THE REJECTING...AND THEY WILL CHOOSE SATAN, HIS DEMONS, AND THE LAKE OF FIRE ETERNITY...IT IS NOT SPIRITUAL, OR METAPHORICAL, OR POETIC...IT IS ABSOLUTELY LITERAL...IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND REAL.The book of Isaiah closes with a sobering contrast, revealing the ultimate, eternal importance of this present life.ALMIGHTY GOD GAVE MANKIND FREE WILL CHOOSE IN THIS LIFE AND THE ONE TO COME.MANKIND MUST CHOOSE...MANKIND WILL CHOOSE.. NO CHOICE...DISMISSING, REJECTING IS A CHOICE.IT IS CHOOSING AN ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.ISAIAH ASKS....ALMIGHTY GOD ASKS...JESUS CHRIST ASKS...WHAT WILL YOUR CHOICE BE?CALL UPON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND HIM ALONE, WHILE YOU MAY...TOMORROW IS PROMISED TO NONE...TODAY IS THE DAY UNTO SALVATION. THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES ONCE WE BREATHE OUR LAST...AND OUR HEART STOPS.Each life can choose its destiny: worship or the worm. Which is it for you?