ISAIAH’S END-TIME TIMELINE

ISAIAH Chapter 1

Relating the Book of Isaiah and Its Prophecies to Their Appointed Time

The entire Bible is based upon the first 5 books of Moses. The prophets are but an extension of God to provide additional disclosures of His Work within those set guidelines. Prophets prophesy but not all prophesy is predictions but revealing of truth and the will of God both past, present and future. The Law itself provides for them as seen in Deuteronomy 18, the succession of which was to terminate in the Messiah. These prophets through the years were raised up and given divine inspired influence to signify and sometimes execute God’s will in the administration of the appointed theocracy. Their inspiration is infallible.

Isaiah is the most quoted prophet of the Old Testament in the New Testament. It is referenced 21 times, from chapters 1,6,8,10,11,29,42,61, and 65^th, with allusions in others. The Lord, as well as His close followers, in the Scriptural explanation of happenings surrounding His Ministry refer to Isaiah often, as in Matthew 3:3; 4:14; 8:17; and Acts 28:25. John makes this remarkable statement about Isaiah, “These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.” [John 12:21]

Relating the Book of Isaiah and its prophesies to their appointed time, as it relates to Christ’s First and Second Comings is part of our task. It is our goal to correctly apply the prophetic Words of Isaiah as literal wherever possible without absurdity, and figuratively where it is clearly meant to be figurative. We will allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. That is to say, we will look for the defining of meaning within the Scriptures themselves. We will give room for God’s often clear way of revealing truth through typology.

Our focus is end-time revelation. Our Scope the entire Book of Isaiah. That many of the prophesies of this Book are unfilled is understood. But some thought to be fulfilled have only been partially or initially begun to be fulfilled. And some have been miss-applied and assigned to the wrong Age or era.

We will consider the historical state of Israel, politically, culturally and spiritually. It takes but a glance at the Scriptural historical setting to see that Israel was nearing the fullness of iniquity that would cause its spewing out. [Leviticus 18:28] They were a Nation of idolaters. Besides the idolatry of the golden calves Jeroboam set up in the northern kingdom, Judah continues to rebel against the Lord as well . [2 Kings 17:9]

Isaiah 1:1 tells us that Isaiah prophesied in the days of the Kings of Judah: Uzziah, his son Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Scripture tells us that King Uzziah’s reign was long and prosperous. However, attempting to assume the priestly functions unlawfully, he was struck with leprosy until the day of his death. Therefore his son Jotham assumed the administration of the government. He also feared the Lord. But although his kingdom was prosperous it was full of treason and bloodshed. It was in the days of his rulership that interestingly Rome, the city, was established according to historians in B.C. 753. Rome being that city and nation that becomes the great instrument of judgment upon Israel some 800 plus years later.

It is in these and the next half century events and circumstances that God uses Isaiah to foretell the future. Not only speaking directly to those immediate days, in the state of Jerusalem and Judea, but also wisely and creatively speaking to the time surrounding the First Coming of the Saviour. And even more so, to the state of things at the time preceding, during and following His Second Coming.

Ahaz follows Jotham ,that especially wicked king. In his reign, Pekah of Israel, and Rezim, king of Syria, came out against Jerusalem in an attempt to end the succession of the Throne of David. King Ahaz of Judah, in fear and distress, aligns himself with the Assyrian ruler who then slew Rezim king of Syria. Israel (the Northern Kingdom) is defeated and led into captivity at this time, which is the height of the Assyrian Empire.

This ”the Assyrian” and Ahaz agreement can be seen as the harbinger of the great alliance of Israel and the anti-Christ in the end days. [Daniel 9:27] As well as, ultimately, the design of the anti-Christ and the nations of the earth in their final attempt to stop that succession of Jesus Christ as rightful heir to David’s Millennial Throne. [Revelation 19:19] After Ahaz, came Hezekiah, “like unto whom was there no king before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart.” He restored Passover and invited Israel as well as Judah to participate. In type, we see the Nation of Israel and the Law’s revival following the Lord’s recognition by them and then His Return. “Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,”

In Hezekiah’s reign, we may see in type the fate of this anti-Christ/man of sin in Sennacherib. Who, after having defiantly blasphemed, beheld the destruction of 185,000 of his men by one angel of the Lord. He had retreated and was later slew by the sword, by his own sons. The events of that day, and the prophecies then initiated had in greater view the great Day of the Lord and its glory.

THE OLD COVENANT AND NEW COVENANT CHURCHES’ DESTINIES RUN PARALLEL IN TIME. It serves us well to know the state of Israel.

The exploration of these historical events and the prophetic Words accompanying them serve as our outline of exploration in their correct assignment. And therefore in their fullest meaning and application in the day they were delivered-and-or-but then only partially fulfilled. And are also applicable to another day, or are wholly designed for a day yet future. Specifically, we seek clarity of understanding and correct application of the prophetic Word that sheds light of revelation upon the days just preceding and following His soon Second Coming. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth him self, even as he is pure.” [1 John 3:2-3]

Isaiah, the first chapter…..

Given the historical war-torn, misinterpreted, and current threatening setting of wayward and divided Israel, along with the presumptuous hypocritical regimented religious observances in Judah; God directs His prophet to set the record straight. The design of this chapter is to show the people the connection between their sins and sufferings. And the threat and necessity of further judgments, as the means of purification and acceptance.

Not really a chapter of prophetic predictions, but prophetic statements of the general state and nature of scourged Israel and God’s clear explanation and exhortation to repent. Along with His willingness to forgive and restore. These Words lay the groundwork for the predictions to follow.

VERSES 2-9 connect the commonly accepted corruption of iniquity in the covenant nation with their separation from God and therefore the cause of their calamities.

VERSES 10-20 expose their exactness in the Law’s religious duty and observance without having their minds and lives reflective of the Law’s moral duty, which render their service worthless.

VERSES 21-31 first contrasts the righteous past history of Jerusalem and its then faithful rulers with its current state of an unfaithful harlot and murderers. Then it contrasts the current leaders as rebellious companions of thieves, ruling without justice, to Zion’s future purged, faithful and righteous rulers, and then consumed adversaries that have forsaken the Lord.

All the indictments of the Spirit of God through Isaiah Chapter 1 carry down through time and are proofed up or fully disclosed in Jesus Christ’s First Coming. Wherein Isaiah addresses and confronts their pride in being descendants of Abraham in calling them Sodom and Gomorrah, John affirms the Words in Revelation 11:8 that end time Jerusalem shall be as it was in Isaiah’s time. As it was in the Lord’s day of His First Coming, so it shall be like Sodom spiritually in the last days just before His Second Coming. As steeped in iniquity they continue to be the recipients of God’s wrath, (“the sword shall devour them”….including the wicked of Israel) right up to the judgment of the anti-Christ. [Revelation 19:19-21]

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