Current And Future

INTRO

Isaiah addressed Israel and Judah in the first 12 chapters of his book. While Judah and Israel were often addressed together, Isaiah regularly singled out Jerusalem in his prophecies. Chapters 13–23 contain prophecies of judgment coming against surrounding nations. Chapters 24–27 contain prophecies of worldwide judgment, but a remnant would be preserved through God’s judgment. Chapters 28–33 contain oracles of war against Samaria, Jerusalem, and Assyria. Our word for Isaiah is Immanuel. “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). This was fulfilled at the coming of Jesus: “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Amidst all of the prophecies of judgment are pictures of the coming Immanuel.

TEACHING

Isaiah 28: Wiersbe highlighted four announcements in Isaiah 28:¹

1. God’s judgment on Ephraim (vv. 1-6)—Ephraim was typically a reference to the Northern Kingdom. God’s judgment on them would come, at least in part, from their drunkenness. Amidst God’s judgment a few will stand—the remnant (v. 5).
2. Judah mocked God’s prophet and rejected God’s Word (vv. 7-13)—Even some of the remnant were influenced by the drunkards of Ephraim (vv. 7-8). The people refused to listen to God’s prophet as he warned them of God’s coming judgment (vv.10-13).
3. God offers His people rest, but they will not hear (obey) His Word (vv.12-20)—God wanted His people to experience His rest, but as long as they refused to listen, it would be like they were sleeping on a bed that was too small (v. 20).
4. Judah’s confidence that God would not judge them was a delusion (vv. 21-29) —this is an important transition into Isaiah 29, because God’s judgement is coming to Ephraim and Judah since both are guilty of similar sins.

Isaiah 29:1-14: MacArthur pointed out two major woes pronounced by God in this chapter. The first woe was to religious formalists. “Ariel” meant “lion of God,” a reference to the strength of the city.² Wiersbe suggested God utilized a play on words in pronouncing His judgement on Jerusalem. Ariel was used to reference Jerusalem. At the same time, a lion was the national symbol of Assyria. The prophet may have suggested that Assyria would be God’s lion in executing His judgment, while Jerusalem retained the title in name only.³ In spite of its strength, God would judge the city and “your speech will whisper from the dust” (v. 4).

Wiersbe noted that those who fought against the city would themselves come under God’s punishment⁴ (vv. 5-8). Isaiah prophesied that God’s judgment would come “in an instant” (v. 5), which may be depicted in Isaiah 37:36: “Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies” (Isaiah 37:36).

While verses 5-6 depicted judgment on Assyria that would soon happen in the future, verses 7-8 depicted a far future event. These verses possibly depict the Battle of Armageddon at the close of the Tribulation. While all nations will come against Jerusalem, Jerusalem will be delivered. Revelation 19:11-21 depicts Isaiah’s prophecy:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel standing on the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead,

‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great. Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against His army. But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed the signs in his presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

CLOSING

We don’t have to function in fear because of these future battles. It’s interesting to consider that a prophet in the 800’s B.C. described a battle that is yet to happen in the future. In the end, God will deliver His people.