The End Time Drama
In Isaiah


ISAIAH 8:5--9:8
8.5
The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,

8.6
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;

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:

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.

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.

8.10
Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
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,
8.12
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
8.13
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
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.
8.15
And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

8.16
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

8.17
And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

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 dwells in mount Zion.

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?

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.

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.

8.22
And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

9.1
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

9.2
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

9.3
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

9.4
For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

9.5
For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

9.6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

9.7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

9.8
The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Historical Facts

Isaiah received instructins from God to issue a warning to his people.

The waters of Siloah are believed to a clear brook which issues from the ravine between the south-western slope of Moriah and the south eastern slope of Mount Zion. It appears to be symbolic of Israel's power which came from God, and is in contrast with the imperial world kingdom which is compared to the overflowing waters of the Euphrates.

Rezin, king of Syria and Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, attacked Judah. Thus Israel is rejoicing in misplaced confidence in Rezin, and allied herself with a heathen nation against her "sister" Judah?

Ahaz, king of Judah, though warned by the prophet to trust in God, went and called to Assyria for help, stripping the temple of gold for payment. With Assyria’s help they conquer Damascus and kill Rezin. But then Ahaz copies the heathen alter in Damascus and sets it up in the temple in Jerusalem, moving God’s furniture out of the way and performing the sacrifices on this heathen altar. [2Kings 16]

Assyria only helped Judah because it advanced their plan to conquer all the nations. As the years went by Assyria totally destroyed Israel and then conquered all of Judah except Jerusalem.

Assyria did overrun Judah "to the neck", but didn't take the "head" or the city of Jerusalem, because a God fearing king was now on the throne of Judah. Through King Hezekiah’s faith and earnest prayers, Jerusalem was miraculously spared (2Kings 19)

The message is strongly advocating that God's people not confederate with the heathen for protection, but to look to God. All the plans and counsels with the heathen will only turn against them. Their hope and trust is to be in God, Who will save them if only they trust in Him.

The chapter continues with prophecies concerning the coming Messiah.

The Confederacy

The prophetic implications:

Revelation 14:8,17:2, 18:3 Shows that in the endtimes people are drinking the wine of fornication (false doctrines) and rejecting the waters of pure doctrine. Thus, like Israel of old, they “rejoice” in the “teachings” and authority of their enemies, rather than in the pure truths of scripture.

Like the ancient nation of God, modern, end-time Christianity substitute the things of God with heathen substitutes and look to human power to enforce their peace, even confederating with governments against other Christians to enforce "worship" but this is not true worship.

Therefore a great deceptive power will arise that will sweep over the whole land.
2Thess. 2:10 they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Paul gives a parallel for the last days in 2 Thess.2-12. The great religious power of the one who seeks to take the place of God, will offer hope for a peaceful, united world. He seats his representative in the "temple" of God, (and Paul's use of this word refers to the people of God).
2 Thess. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2.4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

People will be making a choice between drinking from the quiet waters of Shiloah or drinking from the waters of a counterfeit religion that has united itself with powers of kings. The powerful delusion will overflow and flood all "Israel" but it will only reach the “neck”. (vs.8) Those whose minds are stayed on Christ and committed themselves to serving Him, will not be swept away. They have God’s name in their foreheads—sealed— and nothing can separate them from God's love.

O Immanuel — (vs 8)(God calls upon men and women to take their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel for many are in danger of being swept away by deceptions of false worship)

Those who associate themselves(vs.9) and go along with this deceptive power, who walk in the way of this people, will perish. Revelation 18.4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, .Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev.16.13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 16.14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

A confederacy: The World will form a confederacy of (beast)papists, protestants (false prophet) and New Age spiritualism(dragon). Their purpose will be declared as being the “saving of the world” from the problems that are obviously causing much distress. They will gird themselves with swords of militant power to enforce their plan. They will have great councils and wonderful sounding plans—but they will not succeed, instead they will be heading for total disaster.

The Lord says — do not join! Do not fear them. Do not fear their fear.
What is their fear?--It is that if they obey the commandments of God, they will be despised and ridiculed; if they come out from the world, they will be left to suffer want. They have preached the message that God's law has been nailed to the cross, then shrink back in horror as they see the results in the world of this horrendous teaching, therefore they call upon the government to legislate morality. They confederate and Satan will use his agencies to carry out diabolical devices, to overpower the saints of God,

Jesus is Our Refuge
Our allegience should be totally to Him

We are to give our allegiance to the God of heaven. Worry about dishonoring Him, don’t be afraid of of the threats of man. God will be your refuge.

Matt. 10.28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Christ provides refuge for His obedient people — they will not be confounded. But to the disobedient He is a stone of stumbling — they stumble at His word, refusing to obey it and therefore lose out on His protection. They fall into the snare and are broken.

I Peter 2.6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
2.7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
2.8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Christ is the cornerstone. Sinful man is always stumbling over this rock, looking for something else to build on, never fully comprehending that God is their only refuge. Instead of turning to God, Judah turned to Assyria for help. Assyria turned around and nearly destroyed them.

Every professed believer in Christ will be tempted by Satan. "And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared [mark that word], and be taken." Notwithstanding all their knowledge of the Word of God, all their light, and their position as expositors of Bible truth, many shall "stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken." The ruin of this class is certain. Then the charge is given, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples."

Obedience to God’s word and law are so important.
The urgent appeal is to bind up the testimony and seal the law among God’s people.

Revelation tells us that those who have the testimony of Jesus and keep the law of God are Satan’s chief targets. They are His chief targets because they are God’s faithful saints.

Rev. 12.17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev. 14.12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Seal the law among my people
John 3.33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

To be sealed in our foreheads and thus be in God’s protection we must be committed to Christ and all we know about Him. The keeping of God’s commandments is the evidence that we have God’s seal. God’s commandments are a very important part of last day events.

Rev. 7:3 tells us that God’s angels are holding back the winds of strife till all God’s true children are sealed in their foreheads This seal will be their protection.

God’s true people will continue to trust in the Lord even though He “hides His face” from the professing the rest of the world.

Our children (promise that they too will be with us)

Spiritualism will be wide spread in the churches in the last days. People will be getting guidance,etc. from spirits, rather than from God and His Word.
Rev. 18:2 Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles
13.14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do.

We need to get our guidance from God not from the spirits. Truth must be tested by the Bible. If any message contradicts God’s law or His Word,it is not of God.
Galations 1.8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

_________
Natural and man-made disasters cause great distress in the world. Hunger stalks the land. People blame the government and will say God is sending trouble because government is not enforcing Christian morality. They see corruption all around and feel driven to make oppressive laws. There is also a great spiritual famine.

Luke 21.11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Matt. 24.8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
24.9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake
. 24.10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
24.11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
24.12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

God will not destroy the earth without first giving a striking call to repentance. The Loud cry goes forth: Leave the false worship systems and return to Christ and the true gospel!

Rev.18.1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
18.2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice,
18:4 Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

This great light that streams across the world is sent to bring relief and joy to the world. It is Christ!

It’s a call to throw off the burdens of sin and the oppressions of man made laws. But instead of a latter day Gideon, bringing righteousness through war and law enforcement, the earth’s inhabitants are pointed to a great light (a cleansing fire) Christ. He will bring just judgment. He will either burn sin out of our lives and deliver us from it’s tyranny or, if we refuse to surrender our sin, destroy all sinners with burning.

Malachi 3.2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3.3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
3.4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
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. 3.6 For I am the LORD, I change not; 3.7 Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

Christ—the Light of the World

He is our counselor, our God. He alone can bring peace. He will dispel the great darkness and bring justice and salvation to all who worship Him.

He will establish judgment and justice.

Yes, a light is shining in the world. From Galilee by the Jordan, by the sea. Jesus earthly ministry centered there.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. Christ became our brother, He identifies Himself with us.
Government shall be upon His shoulders. His government is just, and righteous and good. All other governments have failed to bring true peace. Only a government wherein the laws are written upon the heart and obeyed with the obedience of love and appreciation as to their goodness and rightness can result in the harmony inherent in heaven.

He will be called Counselor. People need to receive true counsel, not deceptive, bewildering earthly philosophy and spiritist counterfeit religion that leads only to darkness and distress.

The situation today is much like it was in Isaiah's day. The supposed people of God are looking to earthly wisdom for guidance, instead of looking to God's holy Word. The written code, they say, is only a lesser light, they want a greater light so they discard the guidance of the Bible. Yet Christ is the WORD! The Great Light reveals Himself through the Word. Oh, if people would only look to the true source of wisdom instead of the imaginings of vain philosophies which claim to be built upon Christ yet deny the call to holiness. They deny the call to seal the law among Christ's disciples. They deny that this seal must be upon the people of God. As a result, darkness covers the land.

But Christ will come, not to Galilee this time, but as king of Kings to deliver His saints and execute judgment upon the wicked. At the second coming the righteous will be raised up into the air to be with Him, (1 Thess. 4:16,17) and the wicked will live not until the thousand years are finished. (Rev. 19:21; 20:5) There will be no earthly millinnial rule over the present nations, Christ will not reign as an earthly king over sinful nations. Any kingdom set up claiming to be "Christ's" kingdom on earth over sinful nations, is not Christ's kingdom at all -- it will be the confederacy we are warned against. It will be Babylon which will deceive the whole world with her sorcery's. The righteous are raised up together with Christ in the air and go to live in "His Father's House" (John 14:3) , while the wicked dead live not for 1000 years.

The wicked are not necessarily the ones we deem as being wicked. They are the ones who fought against the Holy Spirit, they are the ones who refused to be cleansed by the great burning fire, the light of Christ. At that time Christ will reveal to everyone who has ever lived the justice of his dealings with sin. And fire comes down from heaven and devours the rebels-- those who fought against God's righteous government and refused to allow the fire of His Spirit to cleanse them of sin. Christ will establish His kingdom and there will be no more gloom or distress, war or death ever after. Justice and righteousness will reign forever.(See Rev. 20)

The 3 angels' message (which is earth's last warning message) is the call to the world to worship our Creator God and give Him our full allegiance for His judgment is come. (See Rev 14:6-12)

Don't join the confederacy which may seem right and good and the answer to the world's problems-
The confederacy is the great deceptive power "Babylon" of Revelation 17 and 18 but our safety is not there -- for Babylon will be cast down like a millstone into the sea.

"Fear God, and give glory to Him, Worship Him Who made the heaven's and the earth."
He is our king and Savior! His kingdom must be established in the hearts of His people -- trust not in any earthly confederacy.

This light, this message will lightened the earth and all the people shall know, in the end, the difference between the earthly confederacy, and the true kingdom of Christ.

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Isaiah 5--The Wild Grapes
Isaiah 56 & 9 The Sabbath and the Covenant