Quote:
Originally Posted by Kim G  I have always read Isaiah in view of events that were not contemporary with Isaiah. For instance, Isaiah 7:14 referring to the virgin Mary bearing Jesus Christ, or Isaiah 13 referring to the tribulation. However, when reading Isaiah chapters 1-20 last night, I noticed that the references often seem to have immediate fulfillment. Quote:
Isaiah 7:14-17
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; [b]even the king of As
Isaiah 8:3-4,7-10
"And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. 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." 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: 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. 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. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
| This brings up many questions for me. If these things have been fulfilled, why do we look for another fulfillment? Have these things not been fulfilled? And these immediate fulfillments do not seem strictly literal (moons and stars did not really fall in Isaiah 13, a young woman conceived in chapter 8, but not necessarily a "virgin," they didn't really call the boy Immanuel, but God was with them, etc.). So how are we supposed to read the book of Isaiah?
Keep in mind that I have only learned prophecy through a dispensational lense, and after becoming non-dispy, I am trying to understand prophecy all over again. | The figure of the Sun,Moon , and Stars have to do goverments being completely overthrown,
Isa 13- Babylon was going to be destroyed
Isa 34:3-5 Edom destroyed> host of heaven dissolved,heavens rolled up like a scroll
same language used in Revelation 6:13-14, perhaps the destruction of Jerusalem in 70ad?
The figurative language has to do with literal judgements of God.ie, Day
of the Lord. There are several Day of the Lord's ,not just one.
Even in Joel 2 , the same language can be found and quoted by Peter in His first sermon. The fulfillment is literal but it is explained in figurative and metaphorical language many times.
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Anthony D'Arienzo
Sunday School Teacher
Hope Reformed Baptist Church:
Medford, N.Y.
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