#5 - The Vision of All Things
Isaiah Unplugged Series
A journey into the study of Isaiah and understanding his prophesy, particularly as they relate to you and to me.
THE LORD AS COMMENTARY
Personal Experience
In 2013, the Lord asked me to begin studying Isaiah. I was so determined to start, that I went over to the bookcase and started pulling down commentary on Isaiah. I grabbed some Skousen, some Gileadi, some Parry. As I grabbed the books, the Lord asked what I was doing. I told him I was going to begin to understand Isaiah. The Lord said to me, “I want to be your commentary.”
I realized at that time he did not want me to learn from others’ interpretations of Isaiah’s words. Instead, he wanted to teach me what those ancient words meant specifically for me. I put all those commentaries back on the shelf and pulled out my Bible. Flipping over to the first page of Isaiah, I prayed to God for his inspiration and he indeed became my commentary on Isaiah’s work.
As a preamble to my study, the Lord provided a few instructive words to help me understand Isaiah’s commission.
This is my prophecy of the end times which I commissioned by my servant Isaiah to write, which is written unto my covenant people, those who have made covenants of obedience with me.
You have made a covenant with me, and when a covenant is made I expect exactness and diligence in maintaining the covenant agreements, for I have said that I am bound when you do what I say. But be forewarned, if you do not what I say you have no promise. It is simply said that those who make a covenant are obliged to keep it or they have no promise from me.
You have made a covenant unto me, O Israel, by baptism, and I have covenanted unto you that I would redeem you and your children.
Isaiah’s writing is clearly intended for his covenant people. What makes a person a covenant son or daughter of Christ? It starts through a desire in the heart and is manifest initially in baptism. Isaiah validates this idea as he declares for the Lord, “Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness (Isaiah 48:1, emphasis added). The waters of Judah represent that baptism or rebirth.
THE VISION OF ALL
In Isaiah 1:1, Isaiah declared that he had a vision of things to come. The word “vision” as translated in the King James’ and other versions comes from the Hebrew word חָזוֹן|ḥä-zōn’. This word does not have a direct English translation that I could find. It comes from a root word meaning to mentally perceive or contemplate and has a specific connotation of having a mental vision. חָזוֹן|ḥä-zōn’ means to have a divine revelation or vision, a prophecy, to see a vision in the mind’s eye. This “vision” of Isaiah is an inspired heavenly message from God encompassing not only what would happen to the house of Israel throughout the ages, but specifically what will occur in the last days.
The Vision through Different Eyes
What was the vision of Isaiah saw? He was not the only prophet to have a vision Was his vision different than other prophets’ visions?
There were several other records of visions by prophets in scripture. A few of those are listed below.
John the Revelator
John’s vision is quite different in symbolism and imagery from Isaiah’s, but they overlap almost perfectly. John was marooned on the island of Patmos, where he had his vision. John’s vision almost appears as a waking dream, where he is in prayer and then sees the Lord. Afterward, the vision opens to him. Throughout his vision, John sees many things that will happen upon the earth from the first days of apocalyptic events to the time the earth is caught up to God. He appears to be seeing his vision from a heavenly vantage point, and perhaps viewing his own role in the end-times. It reveals the events of the last days as seen by the courts on high.
Enoch
Early in the age of the world, a seer arose among the people. Enoch stood face-to-face with the Lord and was shown all the ages of men up to the time that he and his city will descend again upon the earth when the Lord comes a second time. In the vision of end-days, Enoch only focused on a few things which give perspective of his intent or desire, the return of Zion and the Lord to the earth.
Nephi
Nephi had a vision of the time spanning his day down to the coming of the Lord. Nephi spoke with the Lord while he was in the spirit. His vision was skewed toward his people and their outcomes. His writings and recollections focused primarily on the covenant promise the Lord gave of the restoration of his seed. He was able to see the events of the last days, but the Lord prevented him from recording what he saw. Perhaps that’s because of the plainness of his prophesying. So, in order to share the details of his dream and still follow the Lord’s injunction for him to allow John to reveal them, he quotes portions of Isaiah’s writings. He knew that Isaiah had the same vision, and he used portions of Isaiah’s writings to convey the events that would be coming.
Isaiah
According to the Lord, Isaiah’s vision was intended for the whole house of Israel. Isaiah received a dream or vision and wrote it down. It is suspected he had multiple visions and combined them together. It is believed that he wrote the first and second halves of his book at different times. The points of his vision concentrate on several different overlapping themes, particularly in relation to the end-time servants and their role in leadings back the house of Israel to God
Daniel
We read in the book of Daniel that he fell on his face and was in a dream or in the spirit when he saw his vision. Daniel’s vision varied from Isaiah’s. He saw symbolic personifications of kings and great nations while Isaiah focused on specific people or themes. Daniel’s vision appears to be a very global view of the events of the end days.
Isaiah's Contemporaries
Isaiah was not the only prophet to prophesy during his time of the judgments upon Israel or coming end-time calamities and events. Others were also called to give warning messages to Israel and Judah, and subsequently to us. Like Isaiah, Micah was in the southern kingdom of Judah. Hosea lived in the northern kingdom of Israel or Ephraim. These two prophets were contemporaries to Isaiah. It is interesting to compare and contrast the revelations of each.
Historical Side Note
- Isaiah lived in the kingdom of Judah (the southern kingdom). He was born around 750 BC or so, the son of Amoz. Jewish tradition suggests Amoz was a cousin to Uziah, which would make Isaiah part of the aristocracy, and give him access to the kings. His call by God (Isaiah 6) happened prior to Uziah’s death (around 740 BC or so). He prophesied for 40-60 years. Tradition (from the Ascent of Isaiah) suggests he was sawn asunder by Manasseh
- Hosea lived in the northern kingdom of Israel (in Samaria). He was born int he 8th century BC, son of Beeri. He is the only recorded prophet of that time in the northern kingdom. His book was written during the reign of King Jeroboam II (between 786-746 BC). Not much is known about him, but it is suspected he prophesied for nearly 40 years. Based on his writing, some suspected he was a farmer.
- Micah lived in the southern Kingdom and came from a town called Moreshet, about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem. He started prophesying during the reign of King Jotham (around 735 BC). Nothing is known of his heritage and little of his life. Where he does not say who he is, some suspect that he was considered an outsider by those in Judah or Jerusalem.
Each of them saw a vision from God and shared what they received.
Isaiah 1:1
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Hosea 1:1
The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
Micah 1:1
The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
Comparing Isaiah and Hosea
Below are only a few comparisons between the writings of Isaiah and Hosea. There are many others you will see as you read both vision accounts.
The Whoredoms of the People
Isaiah and Hosea lived in different kingdoms of Israel, Isaiah to the south and Hosea in the north. But both foresaw the wickedness of their own people and declared warnings of their sins as whoredoms against the Lord.
Isaiah 1:21-23
How is the faithful city become a harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water; thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Hosea 1:2
The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms; for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.
Children as Signs
They also each use their children as signs and warnings against the people of Israel. Isaiah uses two of his sons, and Hosea uses three of his children. Isaiah’s children include the following two:
Shear-Jashub: (שְאָר יָשׁוּב|shε-är’ yä-shüv’) – “A remnant will return.” See Isaiah 7:3-4.
Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller’s field; and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz: (מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז|mä-hār’ shä-läl’ ḥäsh bäz) – “Quick spoil, speedy prey.” See Isaiah 8:1-4
Moreover the word of the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. 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. For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, before the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
Hosea’s children are recorded as follows in his prophecy.
Jezreel: (יִזְרְעֶאל|yēz-rε-εl’) – “God will sow.” See Hosea 1:3-5
So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
Lo-Ruhamah: (לֹא רֻחָמָה|lō rü-ḥä’-mä) – “No pity.” See Hosea 1:6-7
And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
Lo-Ammi: (לֹא עַמִי|lō ä-mē’) – “Not my people.” See Hosea 1:8-9
Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, call his name Loammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Bud and Blossom
One of the messages of Isaiah is the idea that after Israel turns to God, they will eventually take root and their righteous seed blossoming to fil the face of the world. Hosea presents a very similar message.
Isaiah 27:6, 61:11
27:6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Hosea 14:4-7
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return: they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Comparing Isaiah and Micah
Judgment Upon the Wicked
Isaiah and Micah were both in the southern kingdom. Micah would have likely known about Isaiah and seems to possibly quote him. Micah started out his vision with a declaration of judgement upon the wickedness of the Israelites, and particularly those in the southern kingdom. Isaiah has a very similar message.
Isaiah 34:2-8
For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies; he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven; behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the reem shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.
Micah 1:3-5
For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?
Wicked Princes
Micah and Isaiah could both clearly see the wickedness of the leaders of the people. It may have been easier to see some of their wickedness because of the blatant demonstrations of idolatrous worship.
Isaiah 1:23-24, 24:12-13
1:23-24 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies.
24:12-13 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.
Micah 3:1-4
And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them; he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
Blind Prophets
In addition to seeing the wickedness of the princes or leaders of the people, both Micah and Isaiah clearly saw the blindness of those who professed to be prophets.
Isaiah 28:7-8, 29:10, 56:10-12
28:7-8 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
56:10-12 His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs, which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Micah 3:5-6
Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him; therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
Zion and Jerusalem
One of the most unique aspects of Micah’s writings is a perfect quote of Isaiah’s writings. It is uncertain if Micah was already familiar with Isaiah’s writings and quoted this prophecy to make add to his prophecy, or if he received the prophecy directly from the Lord.
Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it; and many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; and he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all gone astray, everyone to his wicked ways.
Micah 4:1-5
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.
The Righteous Have Fled or Gone
Part of the consequence of wicked leaders, both civic and spiritual, is the decline of righteousness. Either the righteous are gone because they have been driven out, or they are missing because they have capitulated their integrity.
Isaiah 51:7, 19:2-8
51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
19:2-8 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians; and they shall fight everyone against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof; and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up; the reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and everything sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
Micah 7:1-4
Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage; there is no cluster to eat; my soul desired the first ripe fruit. The good man is perished out of the earth; and there is none upright among men; they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire; so they wrap it up. The best of them is as a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of thy watchman and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
Who Can Be Compared to God?
In the end, one of the issues that ancient Israel consistently had was forgetting who their God is. Isaiah and Micah both profess who God is and ask the Israelites to see if they can make a comparison to God.
Isaiah 40:24-31, 66:13-14
40:24-31 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown; yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth; and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
66:13-14 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb; and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.