ISAIAH 57

ISAIAH 57

PERSECUTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS

THE FINAL TRIUMPH OF THE RIGHTEOUS

Isa 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men (mg. Men of kindness, Godliness) are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil (from that which is evil) to come.
Isa 57:2 He shall enter into peace (mg. Go in peace) they shall rest in their beds, each one walking (Mg. Before Him) in his uprightness.

(GoodNews)Isa 57: 2 Those who live good lives find peace and rest in death.

It is no secret that the Church became very corrupt after the first generation of believers had passed on. Greek philosophers had a strong influence on the teachings and practices of the believers. The philosophies of men have no redeeming powers for the hearts of men. They minister to the minds only, and possess little or no Spiritual value. The end result of such activity is Spiritual death and a revival of carnal reasoning and practices.

Isa 57:3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

Ø Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

It is also true that many rituals and customs of other religions were brought into the Church, corrupting the first doctrines and practices of the Church.

A division of allegiances constitutes spiritual adultery and sorcery. When men try to rely on the Spirit AND the human mind, the ONLY POSSIBLE RESULT is confusion and error. In its finality, it leads into idolatry and persecution of others who wish to refrain from our ways of life.

Isa 57:4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
Isa 57:5 Inflaming yourselves (among the oaks) with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?

Can this be a picture of modern “worship” within the confines of church buildings full of images and statues?
Isa 57:6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering (to the idols of the heathen), thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
Isa 57:7 Upon a lofty and high mountain (among the governments and corporations of the Kosmos) hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice (engage in commercial and political intercourse).

Ø Jer 44:17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
Ø Jer 44:18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine
Ø Jer 44:19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
Ø Jer 44:25 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.


Isa 57:8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered (UNCOVERED) thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; (dabbled in the business of the “world”--Kosmos) thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.

(THE RITUALS OF THE HEATHEN RELIGIONS WERE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THE NATURE OF MEN THAN WERE THE PRACTICES OF CHRISTIANITY) “Principal and Interest” are very beautiful to the human mind.

Isa 57:9 And thou wentest to the king (governments and merchant men of the world) with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase (debauchery) thyself even unto hell.

The Church began to dabble in the commerce of the world, and the Lord was not pleased. Before long, the Church found there were advantages in commerce, and was strongly attracted to it.

Isa 57:10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope (in God): thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.

Gradually, the Church forgot its first and foremost purpose, but continued to maintain a form of Godliness, but its main thrust was in secular business. Gradually, as it lost its fear (respect) of God, the stock in trade would come to include the souls of men.

Isa 57:11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

(Goodnews Bible) Mat 11:12 From the time John preached his message until this very day the Kingdom of heaven has suffered violent attacks, and violent men try to seize it.

(KJV) Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

History of the Church shows that the Church was soon taken over by men who followed their own minds (Philosophy) rather than the Spirit of God.

There is a segment of what is called the Church that God calls the MOTHER OF HARLOTS. A Biblical definition of HARLOTRY denotes a DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE
(The Spirit of God, and Mind of man, or Philosophy).

Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (I was completely amazed.)--Goodnews

Isa 57:12 I will declare (Goodnews—“expose your conduct”) thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

Ø Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Ø Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Ø Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Ø Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Ø Rev 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
Ø Rev 18:13 And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men

Isa 57:13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: BUT HE THAT PUTTETH HIS TRUST IN ME SHALL POSSESS THE LAND, AND SHALL INHERIT MY HOLY MOUNTAIN;
Isa 57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

Inheriting the HOLY MOUNTAIN is a SPIRITUAL PHENOMENON, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GEOGRAPHY. It is an illustration of the Church, and the OVERCOMERS in that Church. The work of this company of believers is to prepare a way for people to attain to complete oneness with Jesus Christ.

Ø Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting (Eternal, from where God lives) gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Ø Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The Churches of this present time are failing to send a clear message to the world, due to an overabundance of the spirit of Man in our presentation of the Gospel. We cannot give the world a clear message because of our attention to the denominational system, which requires that we maintain the “standards and doctrines” of that denomination which we represent. Jesus was not, and never will be, the Author of such confusion.

Promoting Church growth has, in much of Church society, superceded and replaced the preaching and practice of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church is presently involving itself in the political arena. This is not pleasing to the Lord, and will eventually cost more than it is worth.

Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

God is, however, mindful of those who have remained true and faithful to Him in spite of what is going on around them. We should never allow ourselves to forget that our primary purpose is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Isa 57:16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

God gave each of us life when He created us. He will not always be angry with us, even though we displease Him at times.

He is even mindful of those who miserably fail to please Him—even those who do not attempt to do what He desires

Isa 57:17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

ISA 57:18 I HAVE SEEN HIS WAYS, AND WILL HEAL HIM: I WILL LEAD HIM ALSO, AND RESTORE COMFORTS UNTO HIM AND TO HIS MOURNERS. (For the sake of Abraham, who was Faithful to Him)

Isa 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

Ø Mat 26:58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Ø 2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The Church has made some horrible mistakes, but they are in a different relationship to God than if they had never tried to do what is right in His Sight It is extremely difficult to get away from His Love, even if we were to try. We can be very thankful for the COVENANT OF PROMISE that God gave to Abraham nearly 2000 years before Jesus was born.

Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Ø Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding (ruling) themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Ø Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Isa 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Ø Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Ø Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Ø Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Ø Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Ø Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Ø Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Ø Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?
Ø Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Ø Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever