The Gospel Of the Kingdom of God In Isaiah Objections?
In the prophetic book of Isaiah the term gospel, or "glad tidings" describes the process of YHVH G-d Himself redeeming a remnant of Jews and Gentiles to be a covenant people of G-d unto salvation, empowering them as joint-heirs of His everlasting kingdom, and ultimately bringing the kingdom of G-d to pass on earth as it is in heaven by "the rule of G-d" in the anticipated golden Messianic age to come through Messiah. The "rule of heaven and kingship of YHVH is the very substance of the TaNaCH (Old Testament); the object of the calling and mission of Israel; the meaning of all its ordinances, whether civil or religious; the underlying idea of all its institutions was the preparatory presentation of the rule of heaven and of the Kingship of its Lord." On the other hand, the Biblical prophets also describe a Messiah Who, in part, is characterized by a suffering-servant role in "making atonement for sin" during a first advent followed by an interval of time (according to Daniel), and then a second advent that culminates with a "triumph of that kingdom" in the golden messianic age to come ultimately "putting away sin." Reconciling the timing of The Messiah's first advent in His suffering servant role and the anticipated universal messianic rule on Earth is obscure in Isaiah's book, and has been misunderstood. Other Old Testament prophets such as Daniel, however, clearly separate Messiah The King's suffering servant role from the anticipated universal messianic age to come by an intervening stage. For example, Daniel presents Messiah's first visitation 476 (69X7) years from the Persian decree to rebuild Jerusalem issued in 444 BC by Artexerxes, and before the second destruction of the temple by General Titus in 70. History bares out that Yeshua was crucified on the eve of Passover, in the tomb during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and that his guarded tomb was vacant on the Feast of "First Fruits" 483 sevens and 476 years after the anniversary of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 444! Even so, the obscurity of the intervening stages in some prophetic books coupled with a misunderstanding of the purpose and relevance of Messiah The King's suffering servant mission has led to a series of speculations among many, not all, rabbis. Many relegate the vivid descriptions of a Suffering Servant Who is The Arm of the Lord, or Messiah in the scriptures to mere poetic symbolism about Israel the nation while others have speculated that the messiah would suffer concurrently in the course of throwing off governments, and or political powers opposing the G-d of Israel leading ultimately to political perfection and supremacy in one messianic visitation. The Messiah will indeed eventually throw off all opposition in the end of things; not as a suffering-servant, but as the undisputed King of Kings and Lord of Lords because Messiah the King already fulfilled His Suffering-Servant role in 33 AD (Exactly 476 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, and 37 years before Titus destroyed the second temple). Isaiah makes the messianic connection with the suffering servant role, and clearly explains the functional purpose and relevance of that role in redeeming a remnant of Jews and Gentiles to be a people of G-d for G-d as joint-heirs of the kingdom of G-d, and coming before the establishment of the universal rule of G-d on earth; a kingdom and rule characterized by the worship and adoration of one G-d, purity, righteousness, cleansing, restoration, healing, peace, humility, joy, and serving through the Holy Spirit's enablement. Moreover, the Holy Scriptures show that the gospel of the kingdom of G-d is already, but not yet a present reality to certain extents during the intervening stages following messiah's first advent as Suffering-Servant and before undisputed universal messianic rule; not merely in type, but in reality. This is good news for the Jew or Gentile laying hold of this gospel of the kingdom of G-d by grace through faith as presented in the context of Isaiah's book, and explained in the next section. A Holistic Gospel Predicated Upon The Messiah In Isaiah the gospel of the kingdom of G-d includes the necessity of Messiah making atonement on behalf of Jew/Gentile, accomplishing the means of communion with G-d through Messiah's mediator ship, completing the redemption of the elect through Messiah in climatic judgment of all people/nations bringing all those remaining obstinate towards G-d under Messiah (Isaiah 24:21-23), and ushering in a golden age characterized by peace (Isaiah 12, 24-27, 34-35). Isaiah's "gospel of the kingdom" is presented as good news as only Messiah can establish the kingdom described in this book, and qualify its subjects as citizens. For example, Isaiah reveals the inability to be justified by the law in G-d's sight, and for man's need, Jew or Gentile, to be saved from sin unto righteousness everlasting by the righteousness from G-d himself; the Messiah. As the Levitical sacrificial system typified atonement is necessary as "All have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6), "Our righteousness is as a minstrel cloth" (Isaiah 64:6), and our sin separates us from G-d (Isaiah 59:2). No wonder Isaiah asks, "Who can be saved?" (Isaiah 64:6; cf. Ecclesiastes 7:20; Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Psalm 49:8-9). Moreover, those rejecting G-d's acceptable sacrifice, or provision for atonement and dying separated from G-d by their sin will experience everlasting torment where "their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched" (Isaiah 66:24). That is bad news. The good news is that those, Jew or Gentile, Signs of The Messiah's First Advent In the course of examining the nature and scope of the gospel of the kingdom of G-d in Isaiah's book it becomes apparent there is continuity between this pre-exilic writing and the gospel of the kingdom of God proclaimed during first century Christianity (586 B.C. vs. 30 A.D.ff) This is important for a number of reasons. First, Isaiah predates historical Jesus by at least 680 years, and reveals some unique insights into the nature of this coming Messiah as related to the gospel prior to the Babylonian exile in 586 B.C. For example, In Isaiah's book the Messiah would be conceived from "alma," or a "young woman before marriage" who was a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Isaiah uses "almah" instead of "bethulah" in order to underscore messiah's supernatural conception since the latter applies to women who are either married or unmarried. Moreover, the mother described in Isaiah 7:14 would call him "Immanuel," or "G-d with us." This can not apply to Isaiah's son at the time the oracle was given as Isaiah, not his wife, names him "Mahershalalhashbaz," or "Quick to plunder, swift to spoil." And, Isaiah's wife conceived in marriage through sexual intercourse. It is noteworthy that fulfillment of distant prophecies were often preceded by the fulfillment of immediate prophesies that included a symbolic "sign" in order to establish the prophet's reliability and credibility in the TaNaCH. Isaiah 16:14 and Isaiah 21:16 are two examples where immediate prophesies came to pass during Isaiah's ministry that gave credence to the other prophesies Isaiah made that were to be fulfilled much later. Hananiah's death and seventy-year exile prophesy in Jeremiah 28:16-17 is another example in the life of Jeremiah the prophet. Those teaching a dual sign is unbiblical are wrong. In any case, this is significant because the distant fulfillment of the Isaiah 7:14 prophesy including the sign "Immanuel" symbolizing the presence of "G-d with us" (cf. Isaiah 9:6) was preceded by the immediate and confirmed prophesy/fulfillment of the sign "Mahershalalhashbaz," or "Quick to plunder, swift to spoil;" the symbolic name given by Isaiah to his son predicting Assyria's devastating blow to Damascus and Samaria (Isaiah 8:1-4). This immediate prophesy of the Assyrian conquest was recorded 734 B.C., and indeed occurred 733-722 B.C. in accordance with the prophetic oracle "Before the boy [Mahershalalhashbaz] knows how to say, 'My father' or 'My Mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria." Thus, the reliability of Isaiah's oracles pertaining to the more distant coming messiah was confirmed when the prophecies Isaiah proclaimed having to do with the near/immediate future were fulfilled. Faith was not demonstrated by the contemporaries of Isaiah blindly accepting him as a prophet, but based upon Mosaic/prophetic precedence in accordance with the scriptures (Deuteronomy 18:21-22; cf. 18:20). What specifics did Isaiah proclaim regarding origin, nature and purposes of the coming Messiah? Objections?
_______Isaiah 53:1-12_________"a man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3)
Isaiah 53:1-12 The Messiah in Isaiah was to be cut off from "the land of living" in death, "assigned a grave," and "buried." Yet, he would be resurrected (Isaiah 53:10-11), and indeed reign on David's throne forever (Isaiah 9:7; cf. Psalm 16:10; Psalm 110). It is noteworthy that king David's tomb is occupied, but Yeshua's is not! Even so, the gospel as presented in Isaiah describes G-d creating for himself one people of G-d, consisting of a remnant of redeemed Jews and Gentiles grafted into his Chosen One by grace through faith unto final salvation and predicated upon the vicarious atonement of the messiah. G-d will keep his covenant promises to Israel, and through Messiah is and will be the light unto the nations as intended (Isaiah 56:3-8); "It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be salvation unto the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). This continues to be fulfilled literally, and will culminate with Mesiah Yeshua's second visitiation (Zechariah 12:10; Cf. Daniel 7). Moreover, no other Jew has been embraced by billions of Gentiles for salvation than the Jew Yeshua-The Jewish Messiah for the nations. Woe unto those who seek Israel's eradication, and reject Messiah Yeshua; Son of David, Son of G-d (Genesis 12:3, Zechariah 2:8, Psalm 2:12). Isaiah's "gospel of the kingdom" message is consistent with the life and teachings of Messiah Yeshua' (Jesus) coming 680 years later, and the teachings of the Apostle Paul following Him. Hence, this gospel of the kingdom of G-d was first Jewish! Is the subject of Isaiah 53 without sin? Look at the immediate context. Who is without sin in Isaiah 53? Does Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:4, 20 refer to those with or without sin? Could it be that Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:4, 20 is saying sinners can not redeem sinners? The subject of Isaiah 53 is sinless, and the iniquities of the audience of Isaiah 53 will be removed from them, placed on the sinless one, and thereby this Righteous Servant will "justify many." Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:1-4; 20ff does not conflict with the notion of vicarious sacrifice as clearly outlined in Isaiah 53 since the subject is an unusual man for who is without sin? Bottom line, G-d made this provision for you and me to seperate us from our sin to present us blameless in His sight. That is great news! Before 70 a Jewish person was constantly reminded of the penalty of sin (death) and the personal relevance of a substitute. After Titus invaded Jerusalem the emphasis shifted from sacrifice out of practical necessity using 1 Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 1, Hosea 6:6 because the temple where redemptive-type blood/death sacrifices for sin was destroyed and the Jewish people were again scattered in accordance with Daniel 9:24-26. 1 Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 1, Hosea 6:6 were never intended to be used to teach that the penalty/remedy for sin had changed, but were in their original context teaching that atonement without repentance is not efficacious-that the sacrificial system was not intended to be a license to live a G-dless self-centered and idolatrous life (cf Numbers 15:30). It saddens me that so many "experts" know so little about the sacrificial system and what G-d was teaching us through it within the context of the TaNaCH (called Old Testament by Gentiles) See Leviticus 17:11. Yet, any little boy standing under the door while their father applied the blood of the Passover Lamb or later in history accompanying their family to bring
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