THE SECOND recorded sermon of Isaiah appears as chapters 2, 3, and 4 of his book. These chapters must be studied as a whole. He began his sermon with a vision of Jerusalem as the capital of the earth during the Millennial Age and concluded it with a like vision recorded in chapter 4. Between these glimpses of glory, he spoke of the corrupt customs and manners which had been imported into the country from foreign, pagan lands. Then he foretold the terrific judgments of the great day of Jehovah when every high thing that is exalted against God will be brought low, and when God alone shall be exalted. This prediction is followed by a description of the low spiritual, ethical, and moral tone of the people of Israel during the time of the Tribulation. We might compare the first and last visions of this sermon to mountain peaks and the material presented in the body of the sermon to the valley separating them.

IN Isaiah 2:1-4 the prophet described a vision which was granted him by the Lord and which pertained to Judah and Jerusalem. It is important that we understand that this was a revelation granted the prophet by the Lord.

From verse 2 we see that the vision pertained to Israel in the period of "the latter days." All students of prophecy know that "the latter days," mentioned fourteen times in the Old Testament, refers to the period beginning with the first appearance of Messiah on the earth and continuing so long as the sun, moon, and earth endure. The vision given in these verses therefore falls somewhere within this period. Isaiah did not tell us the exact time, but from other scriptures we gather this information.

The prophet was shown a vision of "the mountain of Jehovah's house" in Jerusalem as it shall be in the great Kingdom Age. The prophets constantly spoke of the Temple as "the house of Jehovah." It was erected on Mount Moriah, which is in the southeast portion of the city. When the Israelites thought of going to "the house of God," they sometimes spoke of their journey as being to the "mountain of Jehovah's house."

Thus the word "mountain" here refers to the literal Mount Moriah upon which the Temple was located. At the present time it is the lowest of the four hills upon which Jerusalem is built. But when this vision of Isaiah is fulfilled, it will be exalted above all of the other hills and will be the center of attraction in Jerusalem at that time.

The prophet saw Jerusalem as the metropolis of the entire world to which the people of all nations will flow as a continual stream. According to this prediction pilgrimages will be made by the peoples of the earth to visit Jerusalem in order to see the wonders of its glories and to hear the God of Jacob, our Lord Jesus, proclaiming the Word of God. When He was here nineteen hundred years ago, He taught, speaking as never man spoke. When He returns, He will reign in Jerusalem and will likewise teach it. Probably this expression refers to the religious and spiritual instructions which He will give.

In addition to this the law also will go forth from Jerusalem. This doubtless refers to the legal enactments which will govern the nations upon the earth during the Millennium. Of course the peoples will have to be governed by laws and regulations then as now. Although the devil will not be here at that time, men who are still in the flesh, as the people in the Millennial Age will be, will have to be governed by laws.

The people who go up to Jerusalem and thus hear the teaching of Jesus and see the glories of His kingdom will return to their homes and insist upon their neighbors making a pilgrimage to the Holy City to enjoy the blessed benefits which they themselves have already experienced upon their first visit there.

When this vision is fulfilled, the era for which the world is yearning and longing will have dawned; for we are told that at that time, "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa. 2:4). Instead of being employed for, bloodshed, and carnage, all the metals that are now used in forging the instruments of death will be converted into agricultural tools and industrial machinery to produce implements for peaceful pursuits.

At that time there will be no armies, no navies, nor air forces; no training of men for combat service. Peace and the recognition of the rights of others will be the order of the day.

There will arise of course disputes between nations or groups of people and between individuals, but no resort will be made to force in order to settle any questions. All international controversies will be decided by Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ. We who are now members of His body and who will receive our glorified bodies at the rapture of the church will reign with Him and will assist in the government of the world during the great Millennial Age. We shall judge the nations and shall even judge angels. All disputes and controversies will be settled in the courts of the land by the righteous, redeemed saints of God. At that time every man will dwell under his own vine and fig tree and no one will make another afraid. The prophets and the psalmists constantly spoke and sang of this glorious era of the future.

IN Isaiah 2:5-11 the prophet reprimanded the people of his day for importing foreign customs and manners into the country of Israel. In verse 5 he addressed the house of Jacob and urged them to come "... and ... walk in the light of Jehovah." He then declared that they, the house of Jacob, had "forsaken thy people the house of Jacob." How could this be? The "house of Jacob" which they had forsaken was Israel as she was at the beginning of her national history when she was free from the contaminating customs of the nations. The "house of Jacob" whom he reprimanded was the people of his own generation who had forsaken the right ways of the Lord and had gone after the customs of the people round about them.

We remember that in the days of Samuel the people wanted to be like the nations around them. They therefore clamored for a king. Samuel warned them of the dangers toward which they were heading and pleaded with them not to take the fatal step. Notwithstanding his earnestness and the reasonableness of his plea, the people still insisted vehemently that they should have a king and be like the nations.

When the children of Israel had achieved their desire, they, figuratively speaking, opened the floodgates for the introduction of all kinds of customs and foreign practices. When Solomon mounted the throne, Israel took a terrible plunge toward the depths of heathenism. It was his policy to establish friendly relations with various nations by marital alliances. When he did that and brought his many wives to Jerusalem, they came with their heathen ideas, pagan gods, and corrupt practices, which were never eliminated thoroughly from the lives of the people of Israel.

From verse 6 of chapter 2 we see that soothsaying was introduced from Philistia and various customs from the East. Commercial relations were established with foreigners. Israel did indeed become unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Because of foreign trade and commerce the land was full of silver and gold, great riches, and treasures. The Israelites were engaged in the buying and selling of horses and chariots, notwithstanding the fact that God warned them through Moses (Deut., chap. 17) that no king who sat upon the throne in Israel should engage in the traffic of horses and chariots.

From verse 8 we see that idolatry was being practiced freely in Israel. Isaiah, especially, had to contend with his brethren who were inclined to go off into idolatry.

According to 2:9 the prophet saw the judgment of God resting upon the whole country because of their sin and their disloyalty to the Lord. In this prediction he foresaw the man of the street--"the mean man"--bowed down under the load of judgment. At the same time he saw the influential, prominent citizen--"the great man"--likewise brought low because of his sin. Since they were not willing to turn to God, the prophet prayed, "... therefore forgive them not."

He looked out into the future and foresaw the strokes of judgment which would descend upon them from Almighty God, falling thick and fast. He therefore exhorted them saying, "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty." Knowing the terrific judgment that will come upon Israel in the end-time, he advised them to seek shelter by running into the rocks and the holes of the earth. By this exhortation he did not mean to imply that they could actually escape the judgment of God in any such manner as this. His language here is entirely different from that found in 26:20. At that time the lofty looks of men shall be brought low and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, but the Lord Jehovah alone will be exalted in that day.

THE great day of Jehovah, which is the Tribulation Period, is described in Isaiah 2:12-22. The prophets constantly foretold this day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Joel, one of the earliest writing prophets, spoke in the most graphic manner in the second and third chapters of his prophecy concerning this period. Amos also described this time of judgment. Zephaniah and Zechariah also foretold it. The Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew, chapters 24 and 25--the Olivet Discourse--enlarged upon it. In Revelation, chapters 6-19, we find the fullest description of the judgments of the great day of Jehovah.

Let us now notice what Isaiah says about this period. According to 2:12-16 everything that man considers as great and of value will be completely destroyed. Among the things that are mentioned are the proud and haughty. God has declared, from time to time, that He resists such and gives grace to the humble. There is no occasion for man's thinking more highly of himself than he ought to think. Men, in the end of this age--especially in the Tribulation--who will be under the complete domination and sway of Satan, will feel their importance and will even defy the God of heaven. According to Psalm 74 there will be certain anti-Semites who will commit every depredation they can against the Jews and who will be the enemies of God Almighty himself. These arrogant ones will therefore be brought very low. The things that are considered of great value are spoken of in terms of the cedars of Lebanon and the oaks of Bashan. In the ancient East the cedars of Lebanon were considered the choicest of trees. Likewise the oaks of Bashan were thought of in like manner. Thus, under these two symbols, the prophets included all those things which man prizes most highly. These will come under the mighty stroke of the judgment of God during the Tribulation. Everything that is lifted up, the lofty towers and fortified cities, will be razed to the ground.

Mention is made of "the ships of Tarshish." Though there is a controversy as to the significance of this name, the evidence seems to point in the direction that Tarshish is none other than Great Britain. The ships of Tarshish are also mentioned in Psalm 48. In this passage they refer to warships. In Isaiah, chapter 60, we again see the ships of Tarshish, which are, as we learn from the context, undoubtedly the British merchant marine. From these and a few other passages I conclude that the British navy and the merchant marine will survive the ordeals of history until the time here foreseen. It is quite likely that the ships mentioned in 2:16 are none other than those of the navy and not the merchant marine. My reason for this position is that, according to Psalm 48, these ships of Tarshish are destroyed at the very end of the Tribulation. The ones mentioned in the passage in Isaiah, chapter 2, are likewise destroyed in the day of Jehovah. I therefore conclude that the prophet was speaking of warships.

During the Tribulation the haughty and proud will bow down under the mighty strokes of God's judgment and will be brought very low. At that time the idols shall utterly pass away, not only from Israel but from the entire world. It is true that Israel was largely cured of idolatry during the Babylonian Captivity; nevertheless, according to Zechariah 13:1-6, there will be a revival of necromancy and fortune telling in Israel. Again, according to Zechariah, chapter 10, there will also be a revival of idolatry in Palestine at that time.

When the judgments of the Tribulation begin to fall, the godless men will become terrified and will run into the rocks of the earth, into caves and holes, and as we learn from the Book of Revelation, will cry out to the rocks and mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the wrath of God and the face of the Lamb, for they will realize that the time in which they will then be living will be nothing less than the great day of Jehovah.

At that time idolatry will be swept from the face of the globe. Men will cast away their idols of silver and gold which they have made to worship. They will realize that the crisis of the ages is upon them, and that the majesty of Jehovah will soon become manifest to all flesh. The prophet therefore called upon the people saying, "Cease ye from man"--that is, the ways of men--and serve God (Isa. 2:22).

In the first three verses of chapter 3 the prophet foretold the time when God will take away the stay of bread and water. Since, in the preceding section, he was talking about the day of Jehovah, it is quite evident that he is still speaking of this same time. The withholding of grain and water from the people is in perfect accord with a similar prediction found in Joel concerning the same time. The people are utterly dependent upon God for water and for food. Man can plant and water, but God alone gives the increase.

At that time the Lord will also take away "the mighty man, and the man of war; the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, and the elder; the captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the expert artificer, and the skilful enchanter." The "mighty man" here is the great soldier. According to this prediction there will be, at the time here foreseen, no great Jewish military men to help her defend the country. Moreover there will be no judges, prophets, diviners, or elders, who will be able, by wise counsel, to direct the affairs of the nation. Even petty officers will be lacking at that time. Outstanding men of influence, power, and prestige also will be removed from the stage of action. No one will be wise enough to counsel the nation as to how it shall proceed in such a crisis as will obtain at that time. Moreover skilled workmen will have been removed from the nation. In other words, the country will be suffering from possibly the severest famines that it has ever experienced. Moreover the leadership of the nation, in all callings of life, will have vanished from Israel. On the contrary the land will be in the hands of the youths, for in verse 4 we are told, "And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them." Since all the older and wiser men of the time will either have died or fled from the country, only the younger generation, inexperienced and lacking knowledge, will direct the affairs of the country--only to wreck and ruin.

According to the next prediction the land will be gripped by a reign of terror--a situation similar to the time of the judges--when every man did that which was right in his own eyes. "And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable." At that time the rising generation will feel that the older ones are years behind the times and that they only are abreast of events and know how to deal with the situation confronting them. Thus they behave themselves proudly against the older ones. When this condition arises in Israel, deplorable days will come.

At the time here foreseen, we are told that one man will take another of his father's house and insist that he assume the leadership and bear the responsibility for the wreck and ruin that is certain to come upon the nation. This prediction shows that the situation in Israel in the time of the Tribulation will become desperate--without any hope of recovery. Hence there will be those in the ranks who will push others forward and make them assume the leadership in order that the impending ruin may come under their management.

But why does God say that all this ruin will come to Israel? The answer to this question is found in verses 8 and 9: "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Jehovah, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The show of their countenance doth witness against them: and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have done evil unto themselves." Men cannot sin with impunity. Every transgression has a just recompense of reward. Israel has had the light of the revelation of God and has known His will. Notwithstanding that fact she, according to this prophecy, with her tongue and with her deeds will act against God and will provoke Him to jealousy. Sin stamps itself upon one's countenance. Wrongdoing always leaves its mark upon him who commits it. "Sin will out." In verse 10 of chapter 3 there is a special message to the righteous of that day: "Say ye of the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings." The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their supplication. God will never forsake His people. Although they may have trials, the Lord will be with them in such difficulties and will deliver them--provided they are trusting in Him.

On the other hand, a woe is pronounced upon the wicked for "... it shall be ill with him: for what his hands have done shall be done unto him." In other words, he shall reap what he has sown. This warning is found in Isaiah 3:11. Let not man deceive himself. "... God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).

According to Isaiah 3:12, the younger generation will oppress the people and women will manipulate affairs of the government. The prophet therefore exclaimed, "O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Turning directly to the leaders of the people of Israel, the prophet threatened them with the judgments of Almighty God. His specific charge against them is found in these words: "It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses: what mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts" (vss. 14,15). The vineyard here is, as we shall see from chapter 5, the Jewish people. The leaders are accused of eating the vineyards. This statement simply means that they oppress the people, extort from them unjust revenues, and do not perform their duties as public officials. The taxation and the restrictions which they lay upon the people thus grind them to powder, as it were, while they, that is, the leaders, cause all the wealth to gravitate toward themselves. The rulers shall therefore come face to face with an angry God and shall have the sentence of judgment passed upon them for such conduct. This statement is true not only with reference to the leaders of Israel but to those public officials of all nations who abuse the rights and prerogatives of their offices.

The prophet gave us one of the most vivid pictures of the Jewish women during the time of the Tribulation which can be found anywhere (3:16-26). In this paragraph he addressed the "daughters of Zion." This expression always refers to the Jewish women. But the term in the singular always refers to all the population of Jerusalem. From this vivid description we can see the many articles that will enter into the wardrobe of these rich, idle, indolent women in Israel in the time of the end. In this connection let me say that had the prophet been speaking of the women of America or of any of our western countries, he would have spoken in the same strain--provided they were living in the same wanton way, indifferent to spiritual realities.

In chapter 4, verse 1, we see a very strange prediction. Here we are told that "... seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach." This little prediction seems to speak volumes with reference to the morals and ethics that will be the order of the day. Moreover there is reflected in it possibly the prediction that the men in large numbers will be swept from the boundaries of Israel. How this will be done no one so far as I know can tell. It may be by various judgments from the Lord or by war. Nevertheless the women will predominate in Israel at the time here foreseen. Laying aside all the high, ethical standards which demand that every man shall have his own wife and every woman her own husband, these women will flaunt that divine injunction and will engage in "barnyard" morals. Think of it! Seven women wanting to live with one man and support themselves--if he will agree to it. Unfortunately I feel certain that the men--at least the bulk of them--will be willing to assent to such a proposition as this. But, on the other hand, I feel absolutely certain that there will be those in Israel and in other nations who will not lower the moral standard, and who will spurn such a proposition as these women will make to the men of that future day. In view of these lowered moral standards one can easily understand why the wrath of God will be poured out upon the people of that generation.

IN Isaiah 4:2-6, we have the concluding vision of this marvelous sermon. In verse 2 is a prediction concerning the Messiah who is here called the "branch of Jehovah" and of Him it is said that He will "be beautiful and glorious" to those that escape in Israel. Many Jewish commentators and all Christian expounders, as far as my knowledge goes, recognize that this is a prediction concerning Messiah, who in other places is called the Branch. He is also called "the fruit of the land." This portion of Isaiah is of course written in poetical form, the fundamental principle of which is Hebrew parallelism. The second line corresponds to the first and explains it. Thus He who is called "the branch" in the first line is called "the fruit of the land" in the other.

According to verses 3 and 4 there will be a remnant that escapes the judgments of the Tribulation. They will be called holy and will be written among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord intends to purge out all the wicked and evil ones from Jewry. When He does, He will be careful to preserve those whose hearts are right and who want to serve the true and living God and be used of Him. When He thus enters into judgment with Israel, He will do it "by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning." A just and a righteous deal will be given to each individual and the judgments of the time of the Tribulation will fall only upon the wicked. God knows how to deliver the righteous out of every ordeal as the Apostle Peter declared. The Lord will provide defense and food for the righteous in Zion at that time (Isa. 33:13-16).

In verses 5 and 6 we have a marvelous prediction: "And Jehovah will create over the whole habitation of mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be spread a covering. And there shall be a pavilion for a shade in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain." According to these verses God will create over the whole habitation of Zion a kind of canopy that will protect it from the sun and from the rain. Zion of course here is none other than the Holy City in Palestine. This covering will be something that will be created over all Jerusalem. There will be nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Zion shall be indeed the joy and praise of the whole earth. The pilgrims who go there to worship Jehovah of hosts and to hear Him preach the Word of God will have an experience such as they cannot enjoy anywhere else in the world. Great and marvelous things are in store for the penitent, believing remnant in Israel. Great and wonderful things are likewise in store for the people who survive the Tribulation Period and who enter into the glorious Kingdom Age.

<<<< previous     next >>>>