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Isaiah 8:1 - 8:22
In
the last Letter, we were given by The Lord a prophetic event, His promise of a 'sign' that
a virgin would conceive and bear a son called Immanuel, meaning 'God with us' in
the Hebrew. We were also told that He would eat 'butter and honey' in order to
know to choose the good and refuse the evil. Honey is the food of the prophet. This Book
here of Isaiah is given to us by God through His prophet Isaiah. Therefore, since Jesus
Christ taught from the prophets in His Gospel, we are also to 'consume' the Books of the
prophets as 'butter and honey', for these Books are God's Word. We are still
commanded to study the Books of God's prophets; (see 2 Peter 3:1-2; 1 Peter 1:7-12; James
5:10; Eph.2:19-22; Rom.16:26; Rom.3:21; Rom.1:1-5; Acts 28:23; Acts 24:15; Acts 15:14-15;
Acts 3:21; John 6:44-45; Luke 24:27).
So this analogy is for us today also, not just the peoples
of Isaiah's time only. If you've been reading my Letters, I know you've heard me say it
before; if we don't study much of The Old Testament, we will not understand much of The
New Testament. That's why Jesus, our Lord and Savior would point to The Old Testament when
teaching in The Gospel. Many think they can teach The New Testament and only turn to The
Old Testament when referenced in the New, and some disregard The Old with statements such
as "We don't live in the Old Testament anymore. It was all history." You should
know that to be a lie by now if you've been studying with me.
We now continue with this study in the Book of Isaiah, and we ask a
word of wisdom from our Father, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Isaiah 8:1
Moreover the LORD said unto me, "Take thee a great roll, and write in it
with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz."
The word
'Moreover' signals that this prophecy continues from the end of Isaiah 7. This
message about the 'man's pen' here means the common writing language of the day.
This is how God is telling Isaiah to write down this message.1 The Words were
to be clear, without a bunch of speech 'clutter' that belongs to so much philosophical
type writings or technical jargon, etc. In other words, write It and teach It plainly so
everyone can understand. This means not the lingo the scribes and priests used.
So what's this word 'Maher-shalal-hash-baz'? It's made
up of four Hebrew words which translates "haste to the spoil or spoiler; speed to
plunder" (Strong's no. 4122, made up of nos. 4118, 7998, 2363, 957). We're going
to find out that this child to be named Maher-shalal-hash-baz is a 'sign' given
in the same sense of prophecy as the sign of the Child (Immanuel) given in Isa.7:14. But
this 'sign' here in Isaiah 8:1 is a warning to the people, not a blessing, for this is
referring to a 'spoiler' of 'prey'.
Isa
8:2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and
Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
If you'll remember the subject back at the start of Isaiah 7, the two 'smoking
firebrands', that is Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah king of
Israel; this subject is being continued here in Isaiah 8. Even in Isaiah 7:8 God said that
He is not going to allow this alliance (Rezin and Pekah) to go up against the 'house of
Judah' to try and conquer it, but that Ephraim (the house of Israel representing the
northern Kingdom of Israel) would no longer be a people. This meant that God was going to
remove Ephraim (the largest of the ten northern tribes of Israel, meaning those others of
the ten tribes are included as well) totally from the promise land and scatter them among
the nations. This our Heavenly Father did, using the 'Assyrian', which is a prototype for
Satan, coming upon this earth, in the near future to cause the captivity and destruction
again, physically and spiritually. This future event will be revealed more here in Isaiah
as we go along.
Isa
8:3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then
said the LORD to me, "Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz."
This 'prophetess' is a female prophet. You'll also find in
Judges 4 that Deborah was also a prophetess and a righteous leader of God's people, so
this woman giving birth to this child here in Isaiah 8 does not mean she was evil, just
because of the meaning of the child's name. Only that this is all done for a 'sign' of
warning that the Assyrian was coming to end this unholy alliance against the house of
Judah.
Isa
8:4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, 'My father, and my
mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the
king of Assyria."
This
verse is saying that before this child named Maher-shalal-hash-baz is old enough
to cry out his mother and father's names, The LORD will have brought the destruction of
Damascus and Samaria, using the king of Assyria. If you'll remember back in
Isaiah 7:9, God said that 'Ephraim is Samaria'. The stronghold city Samaria was
the capital city of the northern ten tribes. Go back to I Kings 11-12 to get up to date on
this separation of the twelve tribes into two distinct kingdoms, with a different king
over each of the two separate kingdoms of Israel. God had another reason besides this
alliance with the king of Syria for removing Ephraim out of the land. King Jeroboam set up
'golden calf' worship to keep the people of the ten tribes from going to Jerusalem to the
'house of Judah' and worshipping God properly. This king of northern Israel, Jeroboam,
even set up false priests instead of those of Levi that lived in the north (these Levites
eventually went south to Jerusalem where true worship of God was at that time). Remember
the analogy given back in Isaiah 7:20 about being 'shaven' from head to toe? This
Assyrian is used to accomplish it.
Please don't take this subject of the two 'houses of Israel'
lightly, for by this information given by God is how you know where those 'lost ten
tribes' of Israel are today. They are not in the modern day nation which we call Israel.
Some people from those northern tribes did migrate to Jerusalem, refusing the false
'golden calf' worship of Jeroboam as written (II Chronicles 11:16), but they mixed with
the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levite. God gave warnings in Deuteronomy 4 what He
would do to Israel if they started making idols and doing false worship. He said He would
scatter His people across the face of the earth 'among the nations' (Gentiles). This
teaching is not my opinion, this is all written. Hey, God kept His promise, but they
didn't keep theirs to Him, otherwise the western Christian nations wouldn't be around
today, for this 'sign' here is not only for the time of Isaiah, but for our future also,
as we will soon discover in this Chapter 8.
Isa
8:5 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
6 "Forasmuch as this People refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go
softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
Pretty deep message here with 'the waters of Shiloah'.
This word 'Shiloah' is referring to the waters of a fountain running underneath
Zion from Gihon to Siloam, in the city of David. These 'waters of Shiloah'
represent The Word of God, that is to say, Jesus Christ. The word Shiloh is another name
for Jesus Christ. Do you remember the living waters that run as a river out of the Throne
of God and The Lamb written in Rev.22:1? Also, do you recall that the pool Siloam
in John 9:7 which Jesus healed the blind man from means 'Sent'? Because these
during Isaiah's time choose to follow other things than that True River of Shiloh, meaning
instead of God's Word they follow man's word, they are 'shaven' naked by this Assyrian.
For the world in the near future, it will be a spiritual 'shaving' to all those who accept
this false messiah (the future symbolic Assyrian) who comes first, before Jesus Christ.
If you don't quite get all of what I'm saying here about this
prophecy of Isaiah concerning today's time, try to understand that this king of the 'house
of Israel' represents today's Christian nations teaching to accept other doctrines in many
Churches that are not part of God's Word, and thus cause many to 'refuse the True Waters
of Shiloah that go softly' which give real peace of mind. Instead, many follow today's
version of these two 'smoking firebrands' who prepare the way for Satan as 'a spurious
Messiah'. This is the analogy of king Rezin and king Pekah doing their own thing as
leaders of the people, instead of following God.
Isa
8:7 Now therefore, behold, the LORD bringeth up upon them the waters of the
river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his
glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
These are not the soft waters spoke of in the last verse. If the
Waters of Shiloah in the last verse represent The Word of God, meaning Jesus
Christ, then what are these opposite type of waters here that run up over the river banks
and cause a flood? Let's turn to Revelation 12:
Rev
12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood
after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Notice the phrase here 'as a flood'. Waters of a flood
do not come from a 'mouth', so what does this flood mean? Well, if the
waters of Shiloah is God's Word, then could this 'flood' out of the 'mouth'
of 'the serpent' be Satan's word? You bet! A literal 'flood of lies' is what he
uses to attack 'the woman' in this verse, which represents the same woman of
Genesis 3, the Seed of Christ, His 'Bride'. Tie all the analogies and examples of how
Satan 'beguiled' Eve in Eden, and the temptation of Christ by Satan, and you will
then have exactly the recipe of Satan's 'flood of lies'. (I highly recommend you
consume 2 Cor.11 at this point).
For God's People who have His Word in their hearts and minds,
this 'flood of lies' does not affect them. If you know God's Word, you will not be fooled.
Am I saying that some that believe on Jesus as Savior are not going to be fooled? No, for
many listening to man's traditions who think they are listening to a true teacher of God's
Word, are being prepared to worship "a spurious Messiah", i.e. a 'false
messiah', the 'antichrist'. It's not all that difficult to understand that Jesus said He
is coming after the tribulation of Satan, as written in Matthew 24:29 - 30 and Mark
13:24 - 26.
Isa
8:7 Now therefore, behold, the LORD bringeth up upon them the waters of the
river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall
come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
Isa 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he
shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the
breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
The subject of the Assyrian coming continues with verse 8. Notice
Immanuel is mentioned here again, in relation to 'the breadth of thy land'?
The 'sign' God gave back in Isaiah 7:14 about His Son Immanuel (Jesus Christ) coming
hadn't happened yet in Isaiah's day. But this prophecy is tied together and includes the
times of Immanuel, i.e., Christ on earth, and after. God is giving us another sign of what
would befall us in the last days of this world age, so the Assyrian coming during Isaiah's
days was history, but these references to Immanuel Who hadn't come during Isaiah's days,
is but a type of re-occurring history for us.
This Isaiah 8:8 verse is also revealing where the heart of
the Assyrian's 'overshadowing' will be. Upon Judah, that is to say, upon Mount Zion in
Jerusalem, right in the heart of God's country, for 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 states that
before Jesus returns for His second Advent, 'the son of perdition' will sit in the Temple
of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Again, this future role of the Assyrian, and 'son
of perdition', is Satan. Are you understanding what God is saying here? That Temple on
Mount Moriah in Jerusalem is being prepared to be rebuilt right now, as I am writing this.
Isa
8:9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and
give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird
yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
This 'Associate
yourselves' is talking about the 'New World Order' system of one world government.
This command to 'gird' is given twice for emphasis. God is saying, "Go
ahead, try to make a 'Utopia' upon the earth, engulfing all nations of the world within
it. It won't work, because I will tear it down and break it to pieces, pieces!" When
will God's breaking it into pieces take place? When The Christ returns changing 'all'
into the spirit body, destroying all the works of man's hands, on the 'last trump', or
'trumpet', the seventh of Revelation.
Isa 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought;
speak the word, and it shall not stand: for GOD is with us."
God is closing this portion of prophecy which is shown by the end
quotation mark at the end of this verse. God is telling all that the one world government
freaks can hold all kinds of United Nation meetings, in other words, work themselves silly
trying to bring the 'beast' political system into reality, but He is going to break it
down. You should know what the end of the verse "GOD is with us" is
referring to by now. It is Immanu-El in the Hebrew, which is to say, Jesus
Christ, for Christ's second coming is how this New Babylon World Order system will be
defeated; by the Sword of His Mouth.
Isa
8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that
I should not walk in the way of this People, saying,
12 "Say ye not, 'A confederacy,' to all them to
whom this People shall say, 'A confederacy;' neither fear ye their fear, nor be
afraid.
This message is directly from God to His People, STRONGLY, in
importance, to those with 'eyes to see and ears to hear', His that carry His Truth. His
'Message' here is this: BELIEVE on GOD; TRUST in GOD; put your FAITH in GOD; Have no
'fear' of this 'confederacy'; Don't Listen to it; Don't panic when others without panic;
for GOD IS WITH US, 'IMMANU-EL'.
Notice God is telling Isaiah not to be part of believing in this 'A
confederacy' which 'this People' will be proclaiming? Well who's 'this
People' God is referring to? That word is capitalized for a reason, for it means
God's People that are deceived into accepting this false 'one world Babylon New World
Order' system. This is why those of 'this People' are labeled 'MYSTERY, BABYLON
THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH' (Rev.17:5). Well, how can
many of God's People be called that? Because they listen to many false teachings instead
of getting into their Father's Word, following Satan's false ministers (2 Cor.11), and all
of them together (Satan's children along with many of God's deceived People) set up a 'one
world religion' claiming that the true Christ has returned, and that he's over there in
Jerusalem, claiming it's time to gather up his children, who represent God's Temple today.
Remember the words of our Lord Jesus in Mark 13:21: "And then if any man shall
say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:" Translate
the phrase 'false Christs' in the next verse of Mark 13:22 using your Strong's
Concordance, for it means 'a spurious Messiah', not many different people
claiming to be Jesus as popularly taught, which instead are the 'false prophets'
early in that same Chapter. Many teachers of The Word miss that by one 'notch', not going
back to the Greek manuscripts. It's a very important 'notch' too, because one click off on
understanding that verse, and you'll be worshipping Satan as Jesus, instead of waiting for
the True Bridegroom Who 'tarries', Which is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Isa 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let
Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.
This word 'fear' is 'mowra' in the Hebrew, and
it also means 'to reverence' (Strong's no. 4172). The LORD is our
'Strength', and He is the One Who will tear down the 'smoking firebrands' of this New
World Order.
Isa
8:14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for
a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a
snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
For those who rely on God, having faith in these times ahead,
understanding His Word and not man's, He is our 'sanctuary', our righteous
Covering, and we shall 'not be ashamed'.
Who are 'both the houses of Israel'? Remember the
'house of Judah', and the 'house of Israel'? In short, the 'house of Israel' today make up
the western Christian nations of Europe and the Americas. I mean this in a literal
bloodline sense, although not all peoples living in these lands are bloodline Israelites.
Likewise in the modern nation of Israel in the middle east, which in truth really is the
'house of Judah'; nor are all the inhabitants of that land (Judea) true bloodline Judah,
or true Jews. So all those would-be teachers of the western nations out there telling
their congregations that the non-believing Jews in Jerusalem only are deceived represent
those of the 'house of Israel' which have stumbled at God's Word also, and are deceived
themselves. This is not my opinion, for God Himself here said 'both the houses of
Israel'. If you feel insulted with this idea, take it up with our Father and start
'ploughing' deeper in His Word, and quit playing Church, or you will be 'shaven' naked,
for God allows this 'stumbling' at His Word! (Paul explains in greater depth this 'stumbling'
in Romans 9 & 11.)
Isa
8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall,
and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Notice God is saying 'many', not all will stumble.
Having a hard time believing that Jesus could be a 'stone of stumbling'? What about
Easter, which is a pagan fertility rite that was allowed to creep into the Church during
the seventh century? The Easter egg symbolizes a 'fertility' goddess of spring, and you
won't find bunny rabbits talked about in God's Word. That word Easter is not even there in
the original Greek manuscripts of Acts 12, for it was added by the King James translators
because of tradition. The Greek word which is there in the manuscripts is 'pascha'.
Look it up and tell me what the translation of that word is. Do you think the little
college ritual of 'spring break' get togethers, sex parties, etc., might have something to
do with the ancient pagan spring fertility ritual of Easter (Eostre)?
The last tie downs for the 'trap' is being set today
friends. Without God's Word in your mind you're not going to recognize that 'trap'. You
can't just join God's Club without studying for yourself. I mean this in the sense that,
if all one does is treat God's Church as a country club, a place to visit with the idea of
belonging to something, and just socialize without learning His Word, you will not be
prepared for the times ahead. Am I saying you won't be saved? No. Am I saying that by not
studying God's Word you may be 'shaven' naked by this 'spurious Messiah' (Satan) when he
comes. Yes! It's that simple.
Isa
8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples.
What in the world is this word 'disciples' doing here in
the Old Testament? This word 'disciples' is 'limmuwd' in the Hebrew, and
is translated 'the learned', 'be taught of' The Lord, etc., in other
verses of the Old Testament. It means to discipline yourself in the study of God's Word in
this verse. So we see there is a specific condition that must be met to be called a
'disciple' of God.
Isa
8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, That hideth His face from the house of
Jacob, and I will look for Him.
This is a message for the process of coming to The LORD. We each
must look for Him. We each must come to Him.
This waiting upon the LORD refers to waiting for the True
Messiah Jesus Christ believing upon Him, instead of the false spurious messiah who comes
first.
Isa
8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and
for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, Which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Which 'children' are being spoken of here? 'Shear-jashub'
of Isaiah 7:3 are these 'children', for if you'll remember, that word means in
the Hebrew: 'a remnant shall return' (Strong's no. 7610). This is the first child
of this prophecy in Isaiah. The second children are represented by 'Maher-shalal-hash-baz'
meaning 'haste to the spoiler, speed to plunder'. This verse is letting us know
that God has provided a remnant (the first child) that knows His Truth, which shall be
gathered back together to Zion. This word 'me' probably should have been
capitalized, for He is Immanuel, the One to Whom The Father gave these children that are
for 'signs' and 'wonders' (see John 6:37; 17:12; 18:9). These other
children of the 'spoiler' are Satan's own.
Zion is God's favorite place on earth, and will be where He will
dwell with man. Also see the last verse of Ezekiel.
Isa
8:19 And when they shall say unto you, 'Seek unto them that have familiar
spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:' should not a people seek unto their
God? for the living to the dead?
These evil children have fabricated many false systems of worship and pagan practices, all
designed to trap you away from The One God YHVH through Christ Jesus. Many of them even
teach God's Word in some pulpits. Can you recognize them? The last part of this verse is
saying, "Why would anyone alive in the flesh want to seek for the dead?" Seek
God, Jehovah, everyone's True Father. God created all souls, including Satan who rebelled
against Him. Want to know what's going to happen in the future? Read God's Word, for He
has told us.
Isa
8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this
word, it is because there is no light in them.
This verse is letting us know that whatever doctrine man
teaches; if it doesn't align with God's Word, then there is no 'light' of God's
Holy Spirit in that man. It's not that difficult to discover in many of today's Churches
doctrines that do not align with God's Word. Probably the single easiest method of
exposing them is to get a Strong's Concordance and look it up for yourself. That word
Easter would be a good starting place, for how many Churches do not celebrate Easter as
representing Christ's resurrection time? More do than not. You can even reveal the lie to
many of the Church leaders, and they'll just pass it off, why? Because they've been
following the status quo traditions for centuries, and to stop now would be admitting
guilt. That's kind of bringin' judgment down on themselves and not really caring, isn't
it? Would they bring the congregation down with them also? Because they taught them to
follow false doctrine, and were afraid to change their error and suffer the consequences
of maybe loosing some of the flock? It's better to check teachers out in God's Word for
yourself, including me.
Isa
8:21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall
come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their
king and their God, and look upward.
This verse continues about those teachers whose 'testimony'
does not align with God's Word. This 'shall pass through it' points back to
Isaiah 8:8. This kind of puts these false teachers 'passing through Judah' as the
Assyrian does there in Isaiah 8:8 in the same pot doesn't it? These false teachers are
Satan's 'locust army' of false priests that wear 'breastplates of iron' instead of the
true priest breastplate of kingly jewels, those having 'hair like women' showing their
'flood' of sweet lies to the people, tearing at souls with teeth like lions. You should
remember these symbols in Revelation 9. When their little false kingdom supported by Satan
comes tumbling down upon them, they will 'fret' and curse even God and Christ, showing
their true colors. Maybe you don't think these can exist in some Churches today? It's time
to wake up.
Isa
8:22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness,
dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
These are Satan's own Paul was speaking of in 2 Cor.11
starting about verse 14. They transform (metaschematizo in the Greek,
also meaning 'to disguise') themselves into the apostles of Christ. When they see this
'darkness' here, they will be seeing the trembling that happens upon the return of The
True Savior of all those who believe and love our heavenly Father, The 'I Am That I Am'.
Those in Christ will shine in brightness and in the glory of The Son.
Hope
this study helped in pulling some of the symbols of Revelation together for you, and
especially, helped to give you comfort from our Comforter, i.e., Christ Jesus, for in Him
in these difficult times ahead of us, we truly have nothing to fear.
Peace in Christ Jesus,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
1 Figure Metonymy
(of Cause). The Companion Bible. Kregel Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI., 1990,
p.941, margin note.
All references to "Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance, PC Study Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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