ISAIAH 60

ISAIAH 60

GOD VISITS THE TRUE CHURCH


Someone recently sent me a quip written by one DRESDEN JAMES, which is very fitting for the times in which we live. It says:, “When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the TRUTH will seem utterly preposterous, and its Speaker a raving lunatic.”

In the early 1940’s, Walter Swier told the Adult Sunday School Class of the Tieton (WA.) Pentecostal Church that shortly after Martin Luther and other Reformers began preaching that the Papal System was the Biblical Antichrist, the Pope commissioned a couple of Jesuit Priests to “do whatever it takes to relieve the heat and pressure from the Papal System.”

Their method of approach to the task was to formulate a different interpretation of Biblical Prophecy in which MOST ALL events of the books of Daniel and Revelation were put into the future, at the very end of the Church dispensation.

Walter told us that the two priests (I used to have their names, but can’t find them now) “sold” their theory to the Archbishop of Canterbury (Henry’s Anglican), and the rest is history.

At a later date, I received the following from a Group Forum Email:

Ø Through two Jesuit priests, Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), of Salamanca Spain, and Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), of Rome, Papacy put forth her Futurist interpretation. Antichrist prophecies were to be fulfilled in a seven year period in the distant future. The Futurist "gap" theory has been widely accepted by Fundamentalist churches today, who have made popular the "Left Behind" series."

Ø "Francisco Ribera published his 500-page commentary on Revelation around 1590. He assigned the first three chapters of Revelation to ancient Rome. The rest of Revelation he restricted to a literal 3-1/2 year reign of an infidel Antichrist man who would oppose and blaspheme the saints just before the second advent. Ribera taught that Antichrist would be a literal man who would rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, abolish the Christian religion, deny Christ, be received by the Jews, pretend to be God, and conquer the world. [LeRoy Edwin Froom, THE PROPHETIC FAITH OF OUR FATHERS, Vol. II, pp. 484-505, The Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D.C., 1948]"

Ø "The "Left Behind" series by Fundamentalist Christians has accepted the Jesuit Futurist View that the "Antichrist" is a literal man, and not the Protestant Reformation view that the system of Papacy is the the Antichrist."

For centuries now, the Church has “basked” in the teachings of the Universal Church. Those teachings have THE CHURCH being persecuted, harassed and beat down by all sorts of “Paper Tigers” planted along the pathways we travel every day.

These “Tigers” roar at us constantly about “Implanted Micro Chips”, “Cashless Society”, “Big Brother” and a whole host of other “scary” things. Many of our leaders have become “experts of sorts” in spotting and interpreting these “ Tiger Roarings” for us.

Presently, one of the first questions a person is asked is, “Are you Pre or Post”? Meaning, of course, Pre-tribulation or Post-tribulation. This has been going on for many years. I remember in 1937 a couple of us boys, fresh out of High School, asked a knowledgeable Sunday School Union representative if the “rapture” would be BEFORE or AFTER the Tribulation. He said it would be BEFORE, and set our minds at ease.

For a while, that is. Until we learned that God had made some Promises to a man named Abraham. One Promise was that The Lord would give the WORLD to Abraham, not to the devil and his angels, nor to any human or organized group of humans.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God would co-operate with our interpretations of Scripture instead of doing it the way He planned originally? Much to the dismay of our “experts”, the Lord continues to carry out His own Plan.

The Prophet (Isaiah) is, in my opinion, relating conditions which were yet to take place in the affairs of the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel that had gone into Assyrian captivity in 721 BC..

The first verse is telling us about Israel after they have heard and responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy LIGHT IS COME, and the GLORY OF THE LORD is risen upon thee.

Solomon, in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple prayed:
Ø 1Ki 8:46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
Ø 1Ki 8:47 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
Ø 1Ki 8:48 And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
Ø 1Ki 8:49 Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,
Ø 1Ki 8:50 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
Ø 1Ki 8:51 For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:
Ø 1Ki 8:52 That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.

Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee (ten-tribed Israel), and HIS GLORY SHALL BE SEEN UPON THEE.

Don’t let the present condition of the Church mislead you into thinking poorly toward it. God’s Word is true, HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM IS SURE, and He WILL make the Church the Centerpiece of the Universe.

Ø (Weymouth 1912) Eph 1:7 It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,
Ø Eph 1:8 the grace which He, the possessor of all wisdom and understanding, lavished upon us,
Ø Eph 1:9 when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God's merciful purpose
Ø Eph 1:10 for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it--the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him. (Weymouth 1912)

Ø Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Ø Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;)
Ø Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ø Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Ø Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ø Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ø Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

ISA 60:3 AND THE GENTILES SHALL COME TO THY LIGHT, AND KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THY RISING.

THEY HAVE NOW, AFTER 751 YEARS (THE RESULT OF THE FIRST MISSIONARIES OF THE GOSPEL), TURNED TO JESUS CHRIST.

Isa 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

Ø Gen 49:10 ……; and unto HIM (not a geographic location) shall the gathering of the people be.

Isa 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea (humanity) shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. (The Church of the Living God)

Isaiah has already told us, in the chapters preceding this one, that the “re-formed” (Into ANOTHER vessel) Northern Kingdom of Israel (Jer 18) would “be” (take) My Salvation to the End of the Earth. (Isa 49:6)

Ø Isa 54:3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit (possess, be given) the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

We must remember that this is a language of the Spirit here, rather than a human conversation. This is speaking, no doubt, about how much of a change would take place in the people of Israel after they had heard and responded to the Gospel.

Instead of the humiliation He had caused to come to them, now they would have honor. Instead of poverty and trouble, they would have prosperity and plenty. Instead of uncertainty and fear they would have comfort and assurance through Jesus Christ. Instead of PAGAN IDOLATRY, they would turn to serve the One True God in Jesus Christ.

The Church would not always do the complete Will of God, but the Blessings of following the Lord would far outweigh their failures. Christianity is NOT based on OUR ABILITIES or PERFORMANCE, but upon FAITH IN THE PROMISES OF GOD.

Wherever the true Gospel has gone, it has raised the living standard of the people. It liberates people from slavery to their natural inclinations of sin and disobedience.

Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.

Isa 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

I have no understanding of these expressions, but they do mean something.

Isa 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

They will be coming in droves, to take their place in the Church of the Living God.

Isa 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. (Unto HIM shall the gathering of the people be. Gen 49:10)

Isa 60:10 And the sons of strangers (former devotees of false religions) 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.

Some of our Spiritual Leaders have a hard time separating Law from Grace, and caused a lot of damage in the Church. The Law showed us what the Lord WANTS. Grace shows us what God ACCEPTS, and has Mercy upon.

Ø Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth (reality) came by Jesus Christ.

Ø MOSES, (law) MY SERVANT, IS DEAD. Jos 1:2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, to the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Isa 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

Ø Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Isa 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Ø Zec 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem (New Testament Church) shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles (Ingathering—Harvest).
Ø Zec 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
Ø Zec 14:18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Ø Zec 14:19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Isa 60:13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together (these are descriptive icons of different nations, unknown to me), to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

Isa 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee (Assyrians, Chaldees, Egyptians, etc) shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Israel (the Northern kingdom that was “marred” on the wheel of the Potter), is now (after Calvary) being re-made into another vessel of HIS CHOOSING. (Jer 18)

The “re-making” of the vessel is a work in progress, not completed yet. But the Hand of God WILL COMPLETE it.

Isa 60:15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

As part of the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, she is finding favor, and being prospered in the new work of Evangelism and Missions. This was the work that Israel had refused to do formerly, but now is gladly, joyfully, doing around the world. (See the parable of Jesus about the two sons who were asked to work in the Father’s field. Mat 21:28-31)

Isa 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Isa 60:17 For brass I will bring gold (better), and for iron I will bring silver (better), and for wood brass (better), and for stones iron (better): I will also make thy officers peace (better), and thine exactors righteousness (better).

Ø Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: 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.

Isa 60:18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

There is NO WARRING in the TRUE CHURCH. Fighting and discord is found only in that portion that is splintered with the denominational spirit.

Isa 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an EVERLASTING LIGHT, (THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY) and thy God thy glory.

Ø Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Ø Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
Ø Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Ø Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

Ø 2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Isa 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine EVERLASTING LIGHT, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Ø Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever. (this is NOT a description of Heaven—it is the TRUE CHURCH)

Isa 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land forever, the BRANCH of MY PLANTING, the WORK OF MY HANDS, that I MAY BE GLORIFIED.

Ø Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Ø Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isa 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Ø Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Ø Act 13:41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Ø Rom 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.