Introduction
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
Comments:
The Book of Isaiah is like an Old Testament gospel. In fact, it could well
be called the Gospel of Isaiah. Like an artist, Isaiah details the image of the
coming Christ. When this city prophet begins his ministry, what is known of
Messiah is limited-—nothing more than a silhouette—-then Isaiah takes to the
canvass. Each additional prophecy is another brush stroke. The seer adds color
shades, texture, and depth. By the end of Isaiah’s writing, anyone who would
look could recognize Messiah.
This prophetical book contains a summary of everything the New Testament
gospel writers will include. Messiah’s birth, life, death, burial, and
resurrection—-even the church—-are all alluded to in Isaiah’s gospel. All of
the major New Testament doctrines are also there - the virgin birth, Messiah’s
sinless life, the substitutionary death, and more!
But Isaiah’s book is much more than a gospel of Christ. It also contains the
history of the future. The oracle gives predictions that were to be fulfilled,
some within his lifetime but others which will not be fulfilled when our
lifetimes are over. Isaiah saw the fall of both of Israel’s kingdoms, the rise and
fall of Babylon, the return of the Jews in Cyrus’ reign, the coming of Christ
as a Babe and as a Monarch; and for good measure, he even saw events on the far
side of Christ’s millennial reign!
Despite all the content within this revelation, its truths are not easily
gathered. God had Isaiah bury many of these future descriptions in symbolic
language and in passages that twist and turns. Bible scholars as recent as the
last century lacked the tools necessary to get at some of these truths; but with
each passing day, more and more prophetical truths are being fulfilled. Each
truth that is fulfilled sheds new light on those remaining to be fulfilled.
In studying Isaiah, we will go backwards in time some 2700 years. But by
doing so, we will be able to see into the future, not just Isaiah’s future, but
ours. So if you are ready, let’s take A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE!
Introduction:
1. \\#Isa 1:1\\ The book of Isaiah was, of course, written by a prophet named
Isaiah who lived in Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah (a good king),
Jotham (a fair king), Ahaz (an extremely wicked king), and Hezekiah
(an extremely good king).
2. Isaiah’s ministry covers a time period of 60 years (740 to 680 BC).
3. This was the time period when Israel had divided itself into two separate
countries.
a. The northern 10 tribes were called Israel and were very wicked.
b. The southern 2 tribes (Judah and Simeon) were called Judah and were
gradually becoming more wicked.
4. It is during Isaiah’s ministry that the northern kingdom is carried away
by Assyria (722 BC). Once removed, they never return.
5. God will let the southern kingdom (Judah) exist for another 136 years.
They will be carried away by Babylon in 586BC, but allowed to return
to the land seventy years later. However, the nation of Israel will
not be autonomous again until after the land is resettled in 1948.
6. Isaiah had ready access to the royal family. Some believe he was somehow
related to royalty himself in order to get that kind of admittance.
7. We will learn from the book itself that Isaiah married a prophetess
and had two sons. Names were given to the sons which coincided with
messages that Isaiah delivered to Israel.
The Book Itself:
1. Isaiah has 66 chapters, like the Bible has 66 books.
2. The first 39 chapters talk of judgment, like the first 39 books of the
Bible (the Old Testament) relate to the law and judgment.
3. The last 27 chapters talk of grace and consolation, like the last 27 books
of the Bible (the New Testament) relate to grace and salvation.
4. Isaiah is the first of the Major Prophets in the Bible.
a. That title is not based on the importance of the content, but the size
of Isaiah’s writing and its location in the Hebrew Bible.
b. There are five Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,
Ezekiel, and Daniel.
c. There are twelve books called Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos,
Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah,
and Malachi.
5. The theme of the book is both CONDEMNATION and CONSOLATION.
What we will find:
1. There will be a lot of repetitive condemnations in this book.
a. Both for the northern kingdom, while it exists, and for Judah.
b. Condemnation is a large part of what a prophet did. He boldly
preached on the sins of the people and the judgment which God would
render.
2. There will also be a lot of prophecy.
a. The first half of the book will have prophecy mainly about judgments
to come upon Israel and surrounding nations.
b. The second half will have more prophecy about Messiah, His
deliverance of Israel, and His kingdom.
c. The prophecies of Isaiah make the book very difficult to understand.
(1) The symbolic and poetic language Isaiah uses makes a light
reading of the content every difficult. Much like its New
Testament counterpart, Revelation, to identify Isaiah’s
message requires much concentration and study.
(2) Also like Revelation, Isaiah language is not always "plain."
Sometimes the language is cryptic, making it difficult to verify
one’s interpretations. For that reason, there are many
interpretations of the texts. The only true "proof" of an
interpretation will be its final fulfillment.
3. The prophecies of Isaiah also jump back and forth in time. Isaiah may
give a prophecy of Christ’s first coming then without notice,
switch to Christ’s millennial reign. These time jumps are not limited
in their direction, as they can go backward in time as well.
4. Generally, the prophecies will fall into three categories:
a. Near-at-hand prophecies - Most of these will deal with the Assyrian
and Babylonian conquests and will take place within 200 years of
Isaiah giving the prophecy.
b. Distant prophecies - All of the prophecies beyond 200 years will
fall into this category. The reader should note that Isaiah does
not see the large time span between Christ’s first coming and the
establishment of His kingdom. To Isaiah, these distinct and separate
events are all in the far future.
c. Dual-reference prophecies - Some prophecies will have a partial
fulfillment in the near future, but will have a larger, more complete
fulfillment in the distant future.
A Simple Outline:
I. (1-39) Condemnation
A. Chapters 1-12 - Prophecies against Israel and Judah
B. Chapters 13-23 - Prophecies against the Nations
C. Chapters 24-27 - Prophecies of the Day of the Lord
D. Chapters 28-35 - Prophecies of Judgment and Blessing
E. Chapters 36-39 - Historical accounts
II. (40-66) Consolation
A. Chapters 40-48 - Israel’s God
B. Chapters 49-54 - Israel’s Messiah
C. Chapters 55-66 - Israel’s Opportunity
<Outline
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