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Verse 8 of Isaiah 66, records this phrase which has been wrongfully considered fulfilled with the formation of the State of Israel in 1948.
Was Isaiah talking about the birth of the Nation of Israel? Yes, but he was also talking about a nation that will have peace like a river, a nation that will have the glory of the gentiles overflowing like a stream, as it is stated in (Isa 66:12).
The state of Israel born in 1948 is not at peace, it has never been at peace. Their government does not act as a peaceful nation. Their government is openly against the commandments of GOD in matters such as abortion and homosexuality. Their government persecute, harass, and try to remove the citizenship of any Jew that turns Christian. And I’m not even talking about the palestinian issue. This actions cannot be the actions of the nation Isaiah was referring to. But let’s analyze the chapter from the beginning to see what Isaiah was talking about.
(Isa 66:1), “Thus saith the LORD: The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; where is the house that ye may build unto Me? And where is the place that may be My resting-place?” MT&JPS.
The LORD is asking HIS people of Israel, where is the Temple? where is the Arc of the Covenant? So HE can go an inhabit it. Is it that the Temple has been destroyed? or that their Temple is no longer suitable to HIM?
(Isa 66:2), “For all these things hath My hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith the LORD; but on this man will I look, even on him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.” MT&JPS.
In the first part the LORD says HE made the Temple and everything in it. And that is also testified by JESUS in (Mat 21:33), “[33] Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:“ KJV. Here the vineyard is the Temple made by GOD (householder), and HE also made everything needed in it to function properly, bringing HIM the fruit of the vine by the work of the husbandmen (the Jews in charge of the Temple). Was GOD talking about the temple of stone the jews made?, or the Christian Temple made out of flesh? as in (Eze 11:29), “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:” KJV. In which the stony heart was the second Temple and the heart of flesh the human heart. Because at the beginning, GOD created men out of the dust of the earth, and breathed the breath of live through his nostrils (Gen 2:7), and HIS creation became HIS resting place. So GOD never intended to have a stony resting place, but because of Adam’s sin (rebelion), Adam’s glorified body (eternal body) was taken away from him and so was the breath of GOD (eternal life or HOLY SPIRIT).
In what follows of verse two, the LORD is going to observe those who are poor and of a contrite spirit to see if they are suitable to receive HIM, those who have the SPIRIT of FEAR of the LORD in them. These people are not those in control of the Temple, as we will see in the next verse, but are the remnant of all Israel.
(Isa 66:3), “He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he broke a dog’s neck; he that offereth a meal-offering, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that maketh a memorial-offering of frankincense, as if he blessed an idol; according as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations;” MT&JPS.
Their sacrifices and oblations are an abomination unto GOD because they are doing as they please and not following the commandments of GOD. This happened before Israel and Judah were taken away into captivity, but also after they returned from Babylon, for they developed their Talmudic teachings in Babylon following the traditions of men instead of the commandments of GOD. This was the situation of the Temple during the ministry of JESUS. The bottom line is, the Temple was not bringing the fruits GOD expected, that Temple was no longer suitable to GOD.
(Isa 66:4), “Even so I will choose their mockings, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear, but they did that which was evil in Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” MT&JPS.
The people of Israel and Judah are in rebellion against GOD. They are not listening to HIM, but to the evil in their hearts. These rebellious people are not the ones GOD has chosen, which are the poor of a contrite spirit mentioned in verse 2. They are not the remnant of all Israel. GOD is separating all these evil people from the remnant.
(Isa 66:5), “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at His word: Your brethren that hate you, cast you out for My name’s sake, have said: ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may gaze upon your joy’, but they shall be ashamed.” MT&JPS.
Those that are in control of the Temple have cast out those that GOD has chosen as remnant, the ones who tremble at HIS word. The Priests think they do it for the glory of GOD, but they are wrong and will be ashamed for their actions. GOD has identified clearly those evil people whom HE will reject: the pristhood, the sanhedrin, the rich and powerful. All of them rule Israel in their wicked ways. None of them are of a contrite spirit, then the SPIRIT is the difference between them.
This is the situation that JESUS had to face, and this same situation was faced by HIS followers after HIS crucifiction. Those who cast HIM out of the Temple were the Pharisees, and the Elders of the Sanhedrin. They were in charge of the Temple in the time of JESUS and they and the rebelious mob cursed themselves when they demanded HIM to be crucified. (Mat 27:20, 24-25), “[20] But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus… [24] When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. [25] Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” KJV.
Here it can be identified that the Pharisees are those who cast the poor brethren of a contrite spirit out of the Temple, for what they did to JESUS they did to HIS followers, and also to the prophets before them. Then, from the remnant of Israel come the followers of CHRIST.
(Isa 66:6), “Hark! an uproar from the city, Hark! it cometh from the temple, Hark! the LORD rendereth recompense to His enemies.” MT&JPS.
Who could be the enemies of the LORD that receive what they deserve? HE has been talking about them for a while now, they are those in control of the Temple, the Pharisees, the Elders of the Sanhedrin and the rebelious mob, all those are without the SPIRIT. And what is this recompense? GOD separates them from the Temple. Just as JESUS said it would happen in (Mat 21:43), “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” KJV.
All the uproar from the city and the Temple is the judgement and crucifiction of JESUS. At HIS death the HOLY SPIRIT that leaves HIS body also leaves the Temple renting the veil in two, as it is written in (Mat 27:50-51), “[50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” KJV.
At that same moment, the Pharisees, the Elders and the mob that demanded JESUS’ crucifiction got separated from the Temple of GOD. They will have nothing to do with GOD until they confess JESUSCHRIST as LORD. (Luk 13:35), “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” KJV.
(Isa 66:7), “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child.” MT&JPS.
Who is she that delivers but Israel? No doubt the man-child comes from the loins of Israel. But why is it that there is no pain in the delivering? Why was the man-child delivered without any travailing?
Because this man-child is born into eternal life unexpectedly. Not even HIS own followers believed HIS resurrection could be possible. But HE did resurrect, and with that, the foundation of the new Temple was built in the hearts of the believers, the remnant of Israel, the poor men of a contrite spirit selected by GOD as written in (John 20:8), “Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.” KJV. John sees the tomb empty and believes; HE is risen. The New Temple was built right that moment in his heart. But the rebelious were excluded.
(Isa 66:8), “Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Is a land born in one day? Is a nation brought forth at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” MT&JPS.
Now, this is the heart of this chapter. A nation was brought forth at once, which nation? It has to be Israel, for Zion is understood as being Jerusalem or Israel. In the previous verse, the woman (Israel) delivers the resurrection of JESUS the CHRIST, in its eternal and glorified body. From that moment on, the acceptance of JESUSCHRIST by the believer is understood as the travails of birth, as stated in (Gal 4:19), “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” KJV. Once CHRIST is accepted in the heart of the believer, the new Temple is formed in that heart. A Temple that only expects the coming of the HOLY SPIRIT. The believer will recieve eternal life with the HOLY SPIRIT, but will still lack the eternal body.
So, as soon as Zion travailed means, as soon as the first believers appeared in Jerusalem, the HOLY SPIRIT came inside of them. These children are the remnant of all Israel and not just the jewish apostles. This happened in (Act 2:36-41), “[36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. [37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” KJV. Verse 36 says these people were from all the diaspora of Israel retuning to the land on that day of Pentecost. Then they feel guilty of JESUS’ death. In verse 39, Peter describes them as the remnant. But in verse 40 Peter describes the murderers of JESUS as the untoward generation, and that they should loose any ties with them. Finally, the men from all Israel that accepted Peter’s advice were baptized in the name of JESUS, thousands of them.
This is the new nation of (isa 66:8) and (Mat 21:43). This nation is made exclusively of the remnant of all Israel. This is the new nation that will bring the fruit of the vine to the LORD. None of those that killed JESUSCHRIST and cursed themselves with HIS blood will be part of it, until confessing with their mouths JESUS is LORD.
(Isa 66:9-11), “[9] Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD; Shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith thy God. [10] Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her; [11] That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breast of her consolations; that ye may drink deeply with delight of the abundance of her glory.”MT&JPS.
These three verses clearly relate to the Acts 2 passages we just discused, verse 9 explains if GOD gives HIS HOLY SPIRIT to cause the birth of Christianity in the upper room, why stop it when the apostles go outside and manifest the HOLY SPIRIT over the remnant of Israel. Let them all accept JESUSCHRIST and receive the SPIRIT in them. In verses 10 and 11 GOD is talking to all Israel, the good remnant and the rebelious pharisees. HE is inviting all to join in this new Temple. But of course the rebelious could only join after they confess JESUS as LORD.
(Isa 66:12), “For thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream, and ye shall suck thereof: Ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees.” MT&JPS.
I have and important observation to make here first. The word ‘wealth’ here, and the word ‘glory’ from verse 11 are very similar in hebrew. So I put the whole verse 12 in hebrew into a translator and the word wealth was changed into the word glory. It is a talmudic believe that the nations or gentiles are gonna pour their wealth over Israel as if they were our gods. Here, I am not going to entertain any talmudic nonsense, so the word ‘glory’ will be considered instead of wealth.
Isn’t that peace of Israel JESUS himself? (Isa 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.” KJV.
But with regards to the river let’s recall (John 7:38-39), “[38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” KJV.
It is obvious to me that Isaiah was refering to the SPIRIT that was being imparted like a river over that many people. And that same impartation continued over all the gentile believers that accepted CHRIST. It is an overflowing stream because of the shear number of believers coming from the nations.
Now, the rest of the chapter seems to be for the end times. Verse 14 gives us the best clue.
(Isa 66:14), “And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like young grass; and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward His servants, and He will have indignation against His enemies.” MT&JPS.
This verse speaks of the resurrection of the dead, or better said the waking up of those who belong to JESUSCHRIST. They wake up to receive their glorified bodies to share eternity with the LORD. The redemption from Adam’s sin is finally over. We become one with the LORD in body and spirit. That is definitely an end time event as stated in (Rev 3:21-22), “[21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” KJV.
This understanding is not originaly from me, it is mentioned in part in (Acts 7:44-60). This is the testimony of Stephen who is introduced in (Acts 6:8), “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” KJV.
This is the last part of his testimony:
(Acts 7:44-48), “[44] Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. [45] Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; [46] Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.[47] But Solomon built him an house.” KJV.
He talks about the Tabernacle which in time would turn into the Temple Solomon built.
(Acts 7:48-50), “[48] Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, [49] Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? [50] Hath not my hand made all these things?” KJV.
He is literally quoting (Isa 66) and saying the Temple the pharisees run is no longer suitable to GOD, HE prefers temples made by HIMSELF, which are the human bodies.
(Acts 7:51-53), “[51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: [53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.” KJV.
He accuses the pharisees as people without the SPIRIT, that act according to the evil in their hearts, and as the ones that removed the men of a contrite spirit from the temple, the prophets, the remnant of GOD.
He did not continue to (Isa 66:8) probably because they would not understand that the lack of the SPIRIT of GOD is the reason GOD is putting them aside. He knows they are going to do to him as they did to the prophets and to JESUS, so he tells them something they would understand thanks to a vision given right there by the LORD.
(Acts 7:54-55), “[54] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. [55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,” KJV.
He told them that (Psa 110:1), “(A Psalm of David.) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”KJV. Was fulfilled in his eyes by seeing JESUS sitting at the right hand of GOD. That made the pharisses the footstool, and their destiny to receive their recompense from the hands of the Messiah himself.
And the pharisees killed him for it. Paul himself was present there, but he made a dramatic transformation, accepting JESUS as Messiah and becoming an apostle himself. So there is hope for the Pharisses if they accept JESUS as LORD. This is their only salvation.
It is very clear that the pharisses and the remnant of Israel, the new Christian nation borne in one day, have nothing in comon.
The pharisees are the violent among the people of Israel. They are the ortodox jews of today, that hate the Christians as their fathers hated the prophets.
There is no such a thing as Judeo-Christian values. Their values are completely opposite. The noahide laws will proof this statement true when the annihilation of christianity occurs.
The state of Israel, the head of the orthodox community, and the Elders of the Sanhedrin, conform the new phariseic government. This state cannot be the nation borne in one day that Isaiah was talking about, but living within this nation there could be thousands of the remnant of Israel chosen by GOD.
