Isaiah Prophecies

Prophetic Facts in the Bible – Prophecies in Isaiah

Overview – Isaiah Prophecies

Isaiah prophesied during the time span of 740 to 700 b.c. Isaiah was a prophet of God that begins writing his book during the reign of Uzziah, and continued through the reign of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

God used Isaiah to warn that people that they need to trust in God alone as their protector, and to keep from making treaties with other human nations during Assyria’s rise to power.

ISAIAHS PROPHECIES

Prophecies Against Jerusalem

PROPHESIED: 740 b.c

FULFILLED: 586 b.c.

God told His people that they would suffer because of their idolatrous hearts. He is going to

• take away all of their support,
• experience famine,
• break down their walls,
• have the city of Jerusalem trampled and
• put the people into exile.

The fulfillment of this prophecy was accomplished by the Babylonians, the destruction of the city, walls, temple and the exile of God’s people.

God Will break down Jerusalem’s wall

And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.  – Isa 5:5

God will cause famine and only a few houses will be inhabited

6. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 9. The Lord of armies has said to me secretly, Truly, numbers of great and fair houses will be waste, with no one living in them. 10.  For ten fields of vines will only give one measure of wine, and a great amount of seed will only give a small measure of grain.  – Isa 5.6, 9

People will be taken into exile

Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst.  – Isa 5:13 

ASSYRIA’S REIGN

Kingdom of Ephraim Falls to Assyria

(Northern Israel) will be shattered in 65 years

PROPHESIED: 740-727 b.c. (Isa 7.1- during the reign of King Ahaz)

FULFILLED: 677-662 b.c.; The northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) was shattered, never to recover again as a kingdom.

In the days of Ahaz, King Rezin of Syria was allies with Ephraim (Northern Kingdom of Israel). The people of Judah became afraid because they threatened to conquer them, and elect one of their own people to be the new King of Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel). God told King Ahaz that the kingdom of Ephraim will not last more then 65 years, and the plans of Ephraim and Syria would fail.

8. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. 16. For before the child is old enough to make a decision between evil and good, the land whose two kings you are now fearing will have become waste.  – Isa 7:8,16

Judgment Against Ephraim (Northern Kingdom of Israel)

God will judge Ephraim with a destroying tempest, and they will be trodden underfoot.

God will accomplish this judgment with a strange action, as if from the mount Perazim

1. Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine! 2.  Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand. 3.  The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden underfoot.

21. For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim; as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused; to do his deed–strange is his deed! and to work his work–alien is his work!  – Isa 28.1-3, 21

Prophetic Fulfillment – Ephraim

Ephraim and Syria never conquered the southern kingdom of Israel, but where rather conquered themselves by the Assyrian Army. Tiglath-Pileser (8th century king of Assyria), according to his inscriptions, received tribute from king Ahaz, and conquered Damascus, killing their King Rezin. God had then set it in the heart of the Assyrian King to take the land of the northern tribes of Israel, Naphtali, Reuben, Gab, Manasseh (1Chron 5.26).

Archaeological Fact – Finding King Ahaz

Þ               see Archaeological Fact – David Kingdom – King Ahaz

God Brings Assyria Against Judah (Jerusalem)

God warns the people of Judah He is bringing judgment of war upon them from Assyria. The Assyrian army has taken many people from Northern Israel into exile, and taken many cities from Judea. King Hezekiah made the mistake of allying himself with Assyria to try and fend off Ephraim and Syria, and when he rebels against Assyria, they came to hit him hard.

We seen much later on in Isaiah ch.37, King Hezekiah repents before Assyria sieges Jerusalem, and God relents judgment on His people any further and instead destroys the Assyrian army.

17. The Lord is about to send on you, and on your people, and on your father’s house, such a time of trouble as there has not been from the days of the separating of Ephraim from Judah; even the coming of the king of Assyria. And it will be in that day that the Lord will make a piping sound for the fly which is in the end of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee which is in the land of Assyria. And they will come, covering all the waste valleys, and the holes of the rocks, and the thorns, and all the watering-places.

 Isa 7:24  Men will come there with bows and arrows, because all the land will be full of blackberries and thorns.  – Isa 7:17-19, 24

• See Archaeological facts – David Kingdom – God destroyed the Assyrians

God will Bring Siege to Judah by Elam and Kir, and Make Eliakim Ruler.

God told His people that He will cause Elam and Kir to trample the walls of Judah, and make the city fall in turmoil. Elam and Kir where outposts of the Assyrian Empire.

When the time of the siege came, the people of the town went as  far as tearing down their own houses in attempt to keep the wall from failing. They made reservoirs for the waters of the old pool. Their effort where in vein as the siege against their city was successful, and God caused many to be captured with ease.

3. All your leaders have fled together; without the bow they were captured. All of you who were found were captured, though they had fled far away.

5. For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the valley of vision, a battering down of walls and a shouting to the mountains. 6. And Elam bore the quiver with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. 7.  Your choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen took their stand at the gates.

8. He has taken away the covering of Judah. In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest, 9. and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool,  10. and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall. 11. You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago.

20. In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21.  and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22.  And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

 – Isa 22:3, 5, 8-11, 20-22

Judgment against Jerusalem (Ariel), War and Natural Disaster

God will judge the city of Ariel, he is going to have nations siege it, and all nations come against it, and he is going to destroy it with natural disaster. He will also not allow his word to be understood until His people fear and obey Him, because they only give Him lip service rather then follow God with a true heart.

1. Ah, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the feasts run their round. 2.  Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be moaning and lamentation, and she shall be to me like an Ariel. 3.  And I will encamp against you all around, and will besiege you with towers and I will raise siegeworks against you. 4.  And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak, and from the dust your speech will be bowed down; your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost, and from the dust your speech shall whisper.

5.  But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff. And in an instant, suddenly, 6.  you will be visited by the LORD of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire. …, so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.  – Isa 29:1-6

ASSYRIA’S CONQUEST

Sweep the Nations like a Flood

Assyria will Carry off the Wealth of Damascus and Samaria

PROPHESIED: 735b.c (When Uriah was priest, and Maher-shalal-hash-baz was born Isa 8.1-3)

FULFILLED: 732-728b.c (before the child could speak Isa 8.4)

God told Isaiah that the prophetess in Isa 8.3 will bear a son, named Maher-shalal-hash-baz, and before he is able to speak, the riches of Damascus and Samaria will be taken away.

God said because the people of Damascus and Samaria refused the waters of Shiloah, and trust in Rezin son of Remaliah, He is going to cause their wealth to be captured and carried away by Assyria. That Assyria is going to come over their whole land like a flood.

4… the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.” 6.  “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7.  therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. … 8.  and it will sweep on into Judah… – Isa 8:4-8

Prophetic Fulfillment: History-

The Cities of Judah where captured in the 14th years of King Hezekiah

1. And it came about in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against all the walled towns of Judah and took them. 2.  And the king of Assyria sent the Rab-shakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah with a strong force, and he took up his position by the stream of the higher pool, by the highway of the washerman’s  – Isa 36:1-2

Archaeology: verse 1 speaks of a tablet the Isaiah had written the name of the child on.

Ethiopia and Egypt Captivity

PROPHESIED: 714-711 b.c. (Isa 20.1- the year Tartan came to Ashdod)

FULFILLED: 701 b.c. (Egypt was defeated by Assyria)

God says that the people of Ethiopia and Egypt will go into captivity and become Assyria prisoners, many without clothes or shoes. Other nations will be afraid because they trusted in Egypt and Ethiopia to save them from the Assyrian conquest.

4. So will the king of Assyria take away the prisoners of Egypt and those forced out of Ethiopia, young and old, unclothed and without shoes, and with backs uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5. And they will be full of fear, and will no longer have faith in Ethiopia which was their hope, or in Egypt which was their glory.  – Isaiah 20.4-5

FALL OF ASSYRIA

Assyria will Fall

PROPHESIED: 705-702 b.c. (time of Hezekiah’s sickness)

FULFILLED: Until 607 b.c. (till the time Assyria was completely defeated by Babylon)

God Will Punish Assyria

Here God Proclaims through Isaiah that after Jerusalem is attacked that he will send his punishment upon Assyria’s King, whom was God’s instrument of punishment. Afterwards Israel will have no more trouble from Assyria. Assyria and Lebanon will loose its forest land trees to such a point a “child will be able to write the number of trees left.”

12. For this cause it will be that, when the purpose of the Lord against Mount Zion and Jerusalem is complete, I will send punishment on the pride of the heart of the king of Assyria, and on the glory of his uplifted eyes…

 18.  And he will put an end to the glory of his woods and of his planted fields, soul and body together; and it will be as when a man is wasted by disease…

23.  For the Lord, the Lord of armies, is about to make destruction complete in all the land…

34.  And he is cutting down the thick places of the wood with an axe, and Lebanon with its tall trees is coming down.

– Isa 10:12, 18, 23, 34

God Will Cut Off the King of Assyria

God hears the prayers of King Hezekiah (37.21) and says that he will not allow Assyria to take Jerusalem. God will so hinder Assyria’s plans that they will not even begin to siege Jerusalem before being lead away with bad news in his own country, and there, the King of Assyria will be killed.

The Bible records the Angel of the Lord killing 185,000 men of Assyria’s army that night. Afterwards King Sennacherib went back to his hometown and was killed by his sons (Isa 37.36-38)

(God says) See, I will put a spirit into him (king of Assyria), and bad news  will come to his ears, and he will go back to his land; and there I will have him put to death.  – Isa 37:7

Prophecy fulfillment – Sennacherib killed by his sons

History shows that Assyria had been at war with Jerusalem already thus fulfilling Ch.7, and as soon as Hezekiah prayed, the Lord Destroyed the Assyrian army

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went back to his place at Nineveh. 38.  And it came about, when he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to death with the sword, and they went in flight into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon, his son, became king in his place.  – Isa 37:37-38

• see Archaeological Fact – Babylonian Empire – Sennacherib

Trees of Lebanon Cut Down and Egypt‘s Rivers Dried

You have sent your servants with evil words against the Lord, and have said, With all my war-carriages I have come up to the top of the mountains, to the inmost parts of Lebanon; and its tall cedars will be cut down, and the best trees of its woods: I will come up into his highest places, into his thick woods. 25.  I have made water-holes and taken their waters, and with my foot I have made all the rivers of Egypt dry. – Isa 37:24-25

Israel (Jerusalem) will be Spared from Assyria

Hezekiah Prayed and repented before God, asking God to heal his illness. God said he would restore his health and keep watch over Jerusalem, and the Assyria would not take it.

Assyria took many of Judah’s cities and land, but Sennacherib left right before performing a full fledged siege on the city of Jerusalem. It is also interesting to note that right after the withdraw of Assyrian forces from Judah, Judah once again began to prosper as a nation.

And I will keep you and this town (Jerusalem) safe from the hands of the king of Assyria: and I will keep watch over this town.  – Isa 38:6

Prophetic Fulfillment

It is interesting to note that even though archeologists have found much evidence dating back to Babylon’s siege and destruction of the city of Jerusalem, there has never been any evidence found of any Assyrian attack on the city.

BABYLON WILL REIGN

Babylon will overcome and capture Israel

PROPHESIED: 736 b.c.

FULFILLED: 586 b.c. (capture of Israelites)

God told Hezekiah that all the stored goods and treasures of Israel will be taken away to Babylon, and his descendants will be taken away to be made eunuchs by the King of Babylon. At this time Babylon and Israel where still allies.

Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Give ear to the word of the Lord of armies: 6.  Truly, the days are coming when everything in your house, and whatever your fathers have put in store till this day, will be taken away to Babylon: all will be gone. 7.  And your sons, even your offspring, will they take away to be unsexed servants in the house of the king of Babylon.  – Isa 39:5

Babylon‘s Destruction

PROPHESIED: 700 b.c.

FULFILLED: 528 b.c. (Defeated by Mede-Persia)

God says he will destroy Babylon to the point that no one will inhabit it again. That shepherds will no longer bring their flock there, and from generation to generation no one will live there.

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beautiful town which is the pride of the Chaldaeans, will be like God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.20.  People will never be living in it again, and it will have no more men from generation to generation:  – Isa 13:19

Prophecy Fulfillment

Today ancient Babylon is very uninhabitable being on of the most arid places in the world. Sadam Huseum actually build a palace to live here but even he still never made it a place of residence.

Babylon will be turned into a swampland

PROPHESIED: 700 b.c.

FULFILLED: [time uncertain]

God proclaimed that after Babylon’s defeat it would become to a swampland.

For I will come up against them, says the Lord of armies, cutting off from Babylon name and offspring, son and son’s son, says the Lord. 23.  And I will make you a heritage for the hedgehog, and pools of water: and I will go through it with the brush of destruction, says the Lord of armies.  – Isa 14:22

Prophecy Fulfillment

Archeologists excavated Babylon in 1800 reported not being able to dig up parts of the ancient city due to water tables that had risen up over the years. This may have been due to an ancient marshland terrain that had been covered over the past millennium.

JUDGEMENT OVER OTHER NATIONS

Moab, Prophecies Against

PROPHESIED: circa 730 b.c.

FULFILLED: 3 years after (Isa 16.14) for specified cities

Was lost as a state in circa 600 B.C

Completely lost identify as of circa 200 A.D.

God says that in three years time after this prophecy is given, Moab will be destroyed by war and fighting because of their pride. The Following cities will become a waste:

• Ar
• Kir

The following cities will weep for their lost and/or be under war as well:

• Dibon
• Nebo
• Medeba
• Heshbon
• Elealeh
• Jahaz

The people of Moab will flee to Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah. The Rivers of Nimrim will become dry, and all their fields and vineyards will be burned. They will become like wonderers. While they flee across the river they will carry their treasures. The Waters of Dimon will be filled with blood.

1.The word about Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab has become waste, and is brought to silence; for in a night Kir of Moab has become waste, and is brought to silence.  2.  The daughter of Dibon has gone up to the high places, weeping: Moab is sounding her cry of sorrow over Nebo, and over Medeba: everywhere the hair of the head and of the face is cut off…

4.  Heshbon is crying out, and Elealeh; their voice is sounding even to Jahaz…6.  The waters of Nimrim will become dry: for the grass is burned up, the young grass is coming to an end, every green thing is dead.  – Isa 15:1-6

2. For the daughters of Moab will be like wandering birds, like a place from which the young birds have gone in flight, at the ways across the Arnon.

13. This is the word which the Lord said about Moab in the past. 14.  But now the Lord has said, In three years, the years of a servant working for payment, the glory of Moab, all that great people, will be turned to shame, and the rest of Moab will be very small and without honour.  – Isa 16.2, 13-14

Egypt, Prophecy Against

Problems with Ruler, Nile, Employment, Crops

PROPHESIED: circa 730 b.c.

FULFILLED: circa 701 b.c. (Egypt was defeated by Assyria)

God says he is going to cause a great trouble to come upon Egypt.

• That Egyptians will fight against themselves, and
• they will have a cruel ruler over them.
• God will cut off the Nile river from being abundant and
• it will stink,
• even the fishermen will have a difficult time, and
• there will be hardly any work (employment) for anyone to do throughout the land.

Egyptians depended on the Nile for their economic structure. God is basically displaying an economic disaster for them in this prophecy.

2. And I will send the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they will be fighting every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; town against town, and kingdom against kingdom.

4. And I will give the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel lord; and a hard king will be their ruler, says the Lord, the Lord of armies. 5. And the waters of the sea will be cut off, and the river will become dry and waste:

6. And the rivers will have an evil smell; the stream of Egypt will become small and dry: all the water-plants will come to nothing. 15. And in Egypt there will be no work for any man, head or tail, high or low, to do.  – Isaiah 19.2-6, 15

Tyre Will Fall

God said that Tyre would become subject to Babylon and loose its prosperity, then eventually regain it.

PROPHESIED: Between 700-680 BC

FULFILLED: circa 540-528 b.c. [when king Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon, and allowed all the lands they destroyed to be rebuilt.]

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. …And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth…  – Isa 23:7-18 

Several Old Testament prophets foretold Tyre’s subjection to the Babylonians (see Jeremiah 25:22; 27:1-11; Ezekiel 26:1-28:19; 29:18-20; Zechariah 9:2ff).

Isaiah declared that Tyre would be “forgotten seventy years,” but that after that period (likely the era of the Babylonian domination), the city would “return to her hire,” that is, her prosperity would resume (23:15-17).

Prophecy Fulfillment – Historic Proof (Extra-Biblical):

This event is confirmed by ancient Greek historian Herodotus (lived approx 500 -425 b.c.) whom echoes the Phoenicians claim said this city lived for 2300 years; and who notes that in the time of the Persian rulers, Darius Hystaspis and Xerxes, the Phoenicians were providing their ships as allies for Persian conquests, and Tyre had regained its former prosperity by approx 540 b.c., after Babylon’s conquest over it.

Lebanon will be restored

God says he will return Lebanon to being a fertile land.

In a very short time Lebanon will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will seem like a wood.  – Isa 29:17

MEDO-PERSIA WILL REIGN

PROPHESIED: 700 b.c.

FULFILLED: 540-528 b.c. (Cyrus edict to free Israelites and rebuild God’s temple)

Deliverance of Israel from Babylon

God says to Israel that He will deliver them from Babylon, and bring them back.

The Lord, who has taken up your cause, the Holy One of Israel, says, Because of you I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldaeans whose cry is in the ships.  – Isa 43:14

Cyrus Will be Gods Servant

God will do many things through him

God said he will make Cyrus His servant. God said he has taken Cyrus to be king and rule many nations. That He will give him a great treasure an wealth and honor.

God will use Cyrus to rebuild His city (Jerusalem) and the Holy Temple and let the captives go free that the Babylonians had captured.

God will give Cyrus the nations and that Egypt and Ethiopia will come and serve him willingly.

The interesting thins is that God prophesied this through Isaiah almost 150 years before Cyrus was even born, calling Cyrus by his name.

 (God) Who says of Cyrus, He will take care of my sheep, and will do all my pleasure: who says of Jerusalem, I will give the word for your building; and of the Temple, Your bases will be put in place.  – Isa 44:28

The Lord says to the man of his selection, to Cyrus, whom I have taken by the right hand, putting down nations before him, and taking away the arms of kings; making the doors open before him, so that the ways into the towns may not be shut;

2.  I will go before you, and make the rough places level: the doors of brass will be broken, and the iron rods cut in two:

3.  And I will give you the stores of the dark, and the wealth of secret places, so that you may be certain that I am the Lord, who gave you your name, even the God of Israel.

4.  Because of Jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have taken for myself, I have sent for you by name, giving you a name of honour, though you had no knowledge of me.

5.  I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but me: I will make you ready for war, though you had no knowledge of me: 6.  So that they may see from the east and from the west that there is no God but me: I am the Lord, and there is no other.  – Isa 45:1

 I have sent him out to overcome the nations, and I will make all his ways straight: I will give him the work of building my town, and he will let my prisoners go free, without price or reward, says the Lord of armies.

14.  The Lord says, The workmen of Egypt, and the traders of Ethiopia, and the tall Sabaeans, will come over the sea to you, and they will be yours; they will go after you; in chains they will come over: and they will go down on their faces before you, and will make prayer to you, saying, Truly, God is among you; and there is no other God. – Isa 45:13

Babylon destroyed by Cyrus (Medo-Persia)

God declares that the major cities of Babylon, Nebo and Be will fall. He will send his ‘beloved’ (Cyrus) to do God’s pleasure on Babylon and its people the Chaldaeans. Babylon will be taken from its seat of power and its shame will be uncovered.

Bel is bent down, Nebo is falling; their images are on the beasts and on the cattle: the things which you took about have become a weight to the tired beast. 2.  They are bent down, they are falling together: they were not able to keep their images safe, but they themselves have been taken prisoner.  – Isa 46:1

Come and take your seat in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; come down from your seat of power, and take your place on the earth, O daughter of the Chaldaeans: for you will never again seem soft and delicate.

2.  Take the crushing-stones and get the meal crushed: take off your veil, put away your robe, let your legs be uncovered, go through the rivers. 3.  The shame of your unclothed condition will be seen by all: I will give punishment without mercy,  – Isa 47:1

Come together, all of you, and give ear; who among you has given news of these things? the Lord’s loved one will do his pleasure with Babylon, and with the seed of the Chaldaeans. 15.  I, even I, have given the word; I have sent for him: I have made him come, and have given effect to his undertakings.  – Isa 48:14

Prophecy Fulfilled

The Cyrus Cylinder

A 9 inch long cylinder found at ancient Babylon dating to 539 B.C. tells of king Cyrus or Persia (Iran today) and his decree to let the captives that Babylon took, during their reign, go free.

Cyrus sent the Jews back to their homeland just as Isaiah prophesied, and was decreed by Cyrus

• see Archaeological Facts Medo-Persia Cyrus Cylinder

Messianic Prophecies

Isaiah refers to many prophetic visions of the coming Messiah, who is the Christ.

PROPHESIED: All of his prophecies range from circa 740 – 700 b.c., roughly over 700 years before the Christ came to the earth. God made it a continual theme throughout all of scripture to always keep His people looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

FULFILLED: Jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies during his life circa 1-33 a.d.

The Messiah Lineage, The Branch

God speaks to His people about the last days, and the coming of His kingdom. He tells the people the ruler of His kingdom, the BRANCH of the Lord, will be the coming Messiah (Compare Jer 23.5).

The prophecy also tells us about the genealogy of the Messiah, from which lineage He will come from.

In that day shall the BRANCH of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and  – Isa 4:2 

1. And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit. 2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.  – Isa 11.1-2

Messiah Born of a Virgin

God tells us that the coming King, the Messiah, will be born by a virgin, a woman untouched by any man. This was fulfilled in the virgin Mary.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  – Isa 7.14

• see Prophetic Facts – Messianic Prophecies

Duel Reference Prophecy

The virgin birth is a dual reference prophecy, meaning it has two separate reference points for one event. First reference is to the current timeframe of Isaiah; when a virgin in Isaiah’s time will be born as a sign from God to be used as a chronometer for King Ahaz to gauge when his enemies will be defeated.

Then, chapter 9 refers back to the events of the virgin birth (Ch.7) specifically telling us they directly relate to the coming Messiah (i.e. Isaiah 9.6- refers to titles reserved only for the Messiah, the King)

Messiah Comes from Galilee

God tells Isaiah from where the light of the world will originate, form Galilee, the very place that Jesus grew up.

1. But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined  – Isaiah 9.1-2

• see Prophetic Facts – Messianic Prophecies

What The Messiah Will Do

All of chapter 35 highlights the ministry of the Messiah and what kind of person He will be. It speaks about Him redeeming the people, healing the sick, the blind and the deaf.

4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you. 5.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.  – Isaiah 35.4-6

• see Prophetic Facts – Messianic Prophecies

John the Baptist

All of chapter 40 refers to the coming Messiah. The first half talks about the way being prepared for the Messiah, but it seems as though God is telling someone specifically to do this (v.3). John the Baptist heard this call (circa 30 a.d.) and made the way for Jesus before His ministry began. He baptized people in the name of the Lord, and taught people about the coming kingdom of God (Matthew 3.2).

3 The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain: 5 and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.  – Isaiah 40.3-5

The Gentiles (Church) Receive The Messiah

All of Isaiah ch 42 deals directly with the coming Messiah, talking about both times of His coming; first as a suffering servant, then as a conquering king. In the Old Testament, all known Jews where known as the Gentiles.

God never did anything unless it was through His nation (of Jewish people) to appeal to the world. In this prophecy, God was telling Israel that He was going to do something different now. God is going to go directly to the Gentiles, because the Jews have continued to disobey Him.

1. Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2. He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.

3. A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. 4. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.  – Isa 42:1

(I have call you) To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.  – Isa 42:7 

The Lord will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.  – Isa 42:13  

Suffering Of The Prophet

Isaiah 50 does not directly correlate to any prophetic mention of the Messiah or anyone other then himself. It does however have a very close symbolic reference to the suffering of the Messiah. The Bible tells us that every prophet that came from God was ridiculed and hated for their honest message (Matt 23.37).

Isa 50:4  The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught. Isa 50:5 

The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward. Isa 50:6  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  – Isaiah 50.4-6

The Gospel Message

God’s Servant (Messiah) Sprinkles The Nations

This chapter deals in direct correlation with a specific message God is going to create:

A message about His Servant (Isa 42, 53), that will be ‘sprinkled’ upon all the nations. This term ‘sprinkled’ is in direct reference to the Jewish tradition of animal sacrifice. When one animal would symbolically take the sins pf the people and die for the nations sins, and it’s blood was ‘sprinkled’ over the people.

It was against Go law for any man to sacrifice another people, So God tells us later the it is a sacrifice that He makes (Isa 53.4) This chapter also tells us in verse 14, that he is stricken so badly, and his appearance is so marred, that no one else will ever suffer as much as He did, and He will be lifted high.

God tells us that eventually every nation will know His message, that He will sprinkle the nations. This is an illusive statement once again to the fact that God will no longer go through His chosen people of Israel, but will rather spread His message about redemption to all nations, (v.7,15).

6. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak; behold, it is I.

7. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8. The voice of thy watchmen! they lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when Jehovah returneth to Zion.

9.  Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

11. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; cleanse yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord. 12. For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.

13. Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. 14. Like as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men), 15. so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they  understand.  – Isaiah 52.6-15

The Messiah Will Experience A Horrible Death

This chapter tells us specifically what the Messiah will experience on earth, and what His sacrifice is for.

He was wounded for our sins, and that God takes out His wrath on the Messiah.

3. He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not. 4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due?

9. And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10. Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.

11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.

12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  – Isaiah 53.3-12

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Jesus Proclamation & Ministry

Isaiah prophesied the Messiah ministry and His purpose for coming in chapter 61. He speaks again, referring to the term ‘good tiding,’ as we saw from previous prophetic utterances in 52.7, the message of salvation God was preparing for the world.

1. The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2. To proclaim the year of Jehovah’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;  – Isa 61.1-2

Luke 4 records the time that Jesus read the fulfillment of this scripture from the Talmud:

17. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,

19. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.  – Luke 4:17-19

And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears  – Luke 4:21

Salvation For The Gentiles

We see again the prophecy that God is going to look outside the nation of Israel to work and send His message.

In fact God says His new people will not even be a nation that was looking for Him, it is referring to all the Gentile nations.

1. I am inquired of by them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, that walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; 3. a people that provoke me to my face continually,  – Isaiah 65.1-3

This prophecy was fulfilled as the church age is filled with people from everywhere in the world, all from different nations. The church is a heavenly nation, not based on any physical location, its citizenship based solely on faith in the Lord. [ref. with Isaiah Ch. 42, 52]

END TIMES PROPHECIES

Isaiah prophesied many ‘End Times’ events. In these events, God reveals His plans of the final days of mankind’s authority, final wars, and God’s coming eternal kingdom. God distinctly tells us about His plans for the coming Messiah, and His return to claim His kingdom. The ‘last days’ began when Jesus came to save the world as a suffering servant (1-33 a.d.), and will end when He returns to establish His kingdom on earth (future).

God’s Coming Eternal Kingdom – In Israel

God gives us a glimpse of His eternal kingdom and goodness in Isaiah Ch.2, that He will judge the nations and establish His rule over the earth.

God tells us all men give up their idols because of fear, and they can literally see God who judges all men at that time. All people will be able to come and stand before God Himself in His kingdom, learn from Him and worship Him.

2. And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3. And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

4. And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  – Isaiah 2.2-4

20. In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats; 20.  to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.  – Isaiah 2.20-21

The Final Battles

Israel Will Loose Rulers, Supplies and Water.

God tells His people what to expect when He sends His judgment on them for their disobedience.

For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water;  – Isa 3:1 

The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: “It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.  – Isa 3:14-15

In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents;  – Isa 3:18

Instead of perfume there will be rottenness… Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle. And her gates shall lament and mourn; empty, she shall sit on the ground.   -Isa 3:24-26

World Destruction

God gives very vivid details to the end of the world, and how it will be judged. God will scatter the inhabitants of the earth. it will be made into a waste. No one will be different, all men will suffer the same fate, to the point only a few men will remain.

1. Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

2  And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.

3  The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word. 4  The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.

5  The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.  – Isa 24:1-5

The curse of the earth, that resulted from the fall of man, the physical laws that cause death and deterioration to all matter, has finally run its course.

Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.  – Isa 24:6 

The earth is broken  and is shaken violently. even the host of high (angelic types or heavenly bodies) will be punished.

19  The earth is utterly broken, the earth is rent asunder, the earth is shaken violently. 20  The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway to and fro like a hammock; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21  And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.  – Isa 24.19-21

Even the solar system bodies will be effected, referring to the sun and the moon.

Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory.  – Isa 24:23 

Israel In The Last Days

God tells us Judah (Israel) will be His kingdom, and that it will be the safe house for all His faithful ones.

1. In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: we have a strong city; salvation will he appoint for walls and bulwarks. 2. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth faith may enter in. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.  – Isa 26.1-3

God will keep peace in His reign, is fair and just.

12.  Jehovah, thou wilt ordain peace for us; for thou hast also wrought all our works for us. 13.  O Jehovah our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.  – Isa 26.12-13

Former rules have died and gone, but God’s kingdom will last forever.

14. They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all remembrance of them to perish. 15. Thou hast increased the nation, O Jehovah, thou hast increased the nation; thou art glorified; thou hast enlarged all the borders of the land.  – Isa 26.14-15

God tells us He will resurrect the dead.

Thy dead shall live; my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.  – Isa 26:19

God Punishment Against Spirit Evils

God tells us that He will punish the Leviathan, which is interpreted by some to mean the devil. He continue to tell us that Israel will be forgiven, become His chosen nation again.

1. In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he will slay the monster that is in the sea. 2. In that day: A vineyard of wine, sing ye unto it. 3. I Jehovah am its keeper; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

4. Wrath is not in me: would that the briers and thorns were against me in battle! I would march upon them, I would burn them together. 5. Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; yea, let him make peace with me. 6. In days to come shall Jacob take root; Israel shall blossom and bud; and they shall fill the face of the world with fruit.  – Isa 27.1-6

Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, so that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.  – Isa 27:9

Natural Events & Catastrophes

God tells us the at the sun will get brighter, and the reflection off the moon will grow even lighter. God will destroy in His anger with a devouring fire.

26.  Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah bindeth up the hurt of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

27.  Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire;  – Isa 30.26-27

Judgment Of The Nations & Heavenly Phenomenon

God tells us in Isaiah Ch. 34, He is going to judge all the nations of the world, defend Israel and give them their inheritance. There will be signs in the heavens, as the havens are rolled back like a scroll, and the star will fade away.

1. Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peoples: let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof; the world, and all things that come forth from it.

2  For Jehovah hath indignation against all the nations, and wrath against all their host: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

3  Their slain also shall be cast out, and the stench of their dead bodies shall come up; and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

4  And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fade away, as the leaf fadeth from off the vine, and as a fading leaf from the fig-tree. 5  For my sword hath drunk its fill in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Edom, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.  – Isa 34:1 

8. For Jehovah hath a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. Isa 34:9  And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.  – Isa 34:8-9

16. Seek ye out of the book of Jehovah, and read: no one of these shall be missing, none shall want her mate; for my mouth, it hath commanded, and his Spirit, it hath gathered them. 17  And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever; from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.  – Isa 34:16 -17

Return Of The Jews

God promises the return of all the Jewish people back to their homeland. He says He will gather them from every corner of the world that they where scattered to.

5.  Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6.  I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth;  – Isaiah 43.5-6

Israel Restored

God tells us that He is going to restore the nation of Israel to its former glory. He will bring back all His people (the Jews) from every place in the world, to reform them as a nation.

1. Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name: 2  and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close: 3  and he said unto me, Thou art my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

4  But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God. 5  And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered unto him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God is become my strength);  – Isa 49:1-5

… saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.  – Isa 49:9

Zion (Jerusalem) Will Be Like Eden

For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.  – Isa 51:3

Future Glory of Zion

In Isaiah chapter 54, God tells us about all the wonderful things He will do in His coming kingdom, often referred to as Zion. He compares His coming kingdom and love for His people as that of a man taking his wife.

5. For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6. For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God.  – Isa 54.5-6

Zion‘s Glory

Isaiah chapter 60 continues to give more details about the coming glory of Gods kingdom. He begins by telling us that every nation will come to Zion, and that it will be the light for the whole world.

3.  And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4.  Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms.  – Isa 60.3-4

The gates of Zion will never close, and the foreign nations will build up its walls. And wealth will be brought to it continually.

10.  And foreigners shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. 11  Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.  – Isa 60.10-11

No more war or violence or destruction, but salvation and praise will come from Zion forever. God will be the everlasting light in it.

18.  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, desolation nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

19.  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

20.  Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for Jehovah will be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.  -Isa 60.18-20

All the people will be righteous, and the work of God’s hand.

Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.  – Isa 60:21

Every generation, even the children will live to be a thousand years old. Each child will live long enough to see their descendants grow to become nations to themselves.

The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time. – Isa 60:22

Zion Will Be Rebuilt

God promises to remake Zion, to make it a place of salvation and a light to the entire world. God says He will make a place of glory and that it will be established above all the nations in the last days.

1. For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burneth. 2.  And the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name.

3.  Thou shalt also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 4.  Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah; for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.  – Isa 62:1-4

God promises that the good and produce of Israel will no longer be given to others, but it will be for the wealth of Zion.

7.  and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 8.  Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy grain to be food for thine enemies; and foreigners shall not drink thy new wine, for which thou hast labored:  – Isa 62.7-8 11. 

Behold, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 12  And they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Jehovah: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken  – Isa 62.11-12

Gods Wrath Upon The Nations

Gods wrath is compared to the winepress, and the people of the nations are compared to grapes. He will gather them together and crush the people of the nations, and all unbelievers, in His wrath.
Their life blood will be sprinkled on His garments.

3. I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. 4. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.  – Isa 63.3-4

And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.  – Isa 63:6

God wrath will be poured out

15. For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16. For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment, and by his sword, upon all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah shall be many.

17. They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together, saith Jehovah. 18. For I know their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.  – Isaiah 66.15-18

New Heaven & New Earth Created

God tells us after all these thing, He will create a new haven and a new earth, and no one will remember the things that happened in the past.

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.  – Isa 65:17

God will remake Jerusalem, and the people will rejoice. There will not be any crying or weeping heard anymore.

18. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying.  – Isa 65:18

People will still build houses and harvest agriculture.

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.  – Isa 65:21

The animals will even be different, here we see the docile animals eating herbs alongside the ‘no-longer’ carnivorous animals.

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.  – Isa 65:25

PROPHETIC DISCREPANCIES

Isaiah 17 – Damascus a Heap of Ruin

Arabic: transliteration: Dimashq, also commonly known as ash-Shām

Damascus is currently the capital and largest city of Syria. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the entire world. Historically, there is no evidence that shows it has ever been completely destroyed.

This creates a discrepency over the interpretation of Isaiah chapter 17.

Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.  – Isaiah 17:1-2

One thought, is of course, that our historic records are not complete, and that through the ruins of circa 700 b.c. the people who returned here where able to rebuild the ruined city to the point of its original architecture. The fact that there is no specific indication in this verse that the city is to remain in this condition could lead to this interpretation.

This second interpreation could lead to consider this another futurist prophecy, stating that this prophecy was only partially fulfilled when the Assyrians defeated the Arameans and Damascus, in 732 BC.

Today Damascus is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city with a 5000-year history yet Isaiah 17:1 indicates that it will one day cease to exist. Some authorities believe the phrase “cities of Aroer” should be rendered “the cities thereof shall be forsaken.”

3.  And the fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria; they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith Jehovah of hosts. 4.  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. 5.  And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the standing grain, and his arm reapeth the ears; yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears in the valley of Rephaim.  – Isaiah 17:3-5

This would refers to the fall of Samaria 10 years later, and the deportation of almost everyone to the far reaches of the Assyrian Empire. Jacob and Ephraim are alternate names for the Northern Kingdom.

Yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs,” declares the LORD, the God of Israel. – Isaiah 17:6

Not all the people were removed – a remnant remained.

7.  In that day shall men look unto their Maker, and their eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. 8.  And they shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands; neither shall they have respect to that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images.

9.  In that day shall their strong cities be as the forsaken places in the wood and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel; and it shall be a desolation.  – Isaiah 17.7-9

This prophecy would not seem to have been fulfilled in history. The Assyrians did not turn to God following their conquest of Aram and Israel, that we know of. Historically, we seem to find evidence that it was the Israelites who were defeated, and than abandoned their cities, and dispersed, yet in this verse the Israelites caused it.

Futuristic Perspective

Additionally, another fulfillment of this prophecy is the yet-future Jewish attack on Damascus causing the destruction and abandonment of Syrian cities..

10. For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; therefore thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips. 11. In the day of thy planting thou hedgest it in, and in the morning thou makest thy seed to blossom; but the harvest fleeth away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.  – Isa 17.10-11

Shem was Noah’s eldest son, and he was the father of Asshur (i.e. father of the Assyrians), and Aram, (i.e. father of the Arameans), and Aram’s son Uz is the traditional founder of Damascus. The knowledge of God in the memories of these patriarchs cannot be questioned.

It wasn’t that they never knew Him, but that they had forgotten Him, abandoned Him in favor of the Canaanite gods of the region, and currently Syria is almost totally Muslim. These verse could very well be indicating they will return to God as we see in Isaiah 19.

Highway in Assyria-  In Isaiah 19 we’re told that in the Kingdom Age there will be a highway extending from Egypt to Assyria, and both will stand with Israel to receive the Lord’s blessing (Isaiah 19:23-25), which could be a further indication that one day these people will return to the one true God.

12. Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters! 13. The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.

14. At eventide, behold, terror; and before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that despoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.  – Isaiah 17.12-14

History: Assyrians Defeated

Having conquered both the Arameans and the Northern Kingdom, the Assyrians under King Sennacherib attacked the Southern Kingdom of Judah, but the Lord sent His angel into the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (Isaiah 37:36-38).

Isaiah speaks of many nations raging against God’s people, not just Assyria, meaning Sennacherib’s defeat was only a partial fulfillment. If  Syria today was able to provoke a Jewish response and escalate a situation, it could easily result in the destruction of Damascus as reveled in Isaiah 17.

Isaiah 19 – Destruction of Egypt

-2 Schools of Though-

Isaiah 19 trend two different perspectives, due to the nature of the language used in the verses.

1st – was an ancient prophecy already fulfilled

2nd- is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled, was partially fulfilled or is symbolic for some future prophetic events that will happen in addition to past events.

Egypt in the Last Days

The Bible gives us a glimpse of Egypt in the last days, and the trouble they will face during the end times.

(Ref. Isa 27.13)

Egypt will be in fear because of the Lord coming against them. Apparently Egypt will have some sort of plot against Israel, and God will come to judge them for it.

16  In that day the Egyptians will be like women: and the land will be shaking with fear because of the waving of the Lord’s hand stretched out over it. 17  And the land of Judah will become a cause of great fear to Egypt; whenever its name comes to mind, Egypt will be in fear before the Lord of armies because of his purpose against it.  – Isaiah 19.16-17

Isa 19:18  In that day there will be five towns in the land of Egypt using the language of Canaan, and making oaths to the Lord of armies; and one of them will be named, The Town of the Sun.

Egypt will be sent a savior because of their cries to God. He will make Himself know to them, and make them free.

Isa 19:19  In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the middle of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at the edge of the land. Isa 19:20  And it will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of armies in the land of Egypt: when they are crying out to the Lord because of their cruel masters, then he will send them a saviour and a strong one to make them free. Isa 19:21 

And the Lord will give the knowledge of himself to Egypt, and the Egyptians will give honour to the Lord in that day; they will give him worship with offerings and meal  offerings, and will take an oath to the Lord and give effect to it. Isa 19:22  And the Lord will send punishment on Egypt, and will make them well again; and when they come back to the Lord he will give ear to their prayer and take away their disease.

Some sort of highway will eventually created between Egypt & Assyria so that they can come to Israel to worship God.

Isa 19:23  In that day there will be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt will come into Assyria; and the Egyptians will give worship to the Lord together with the Assyrians. Isa 19:24 

In that day Israel will be the third together with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the earth: Isa 19:25  Because of the blessing of the Lord of armies which he has given them, saying, A blessing on Egypt my people, and on Assyria the work of my hands, and on Israel my heritage.

References

Bible Study Tools – Prophecies in Isaiah