• 01 -Introduction
• 02 -High & Lifted Up
• 03 -Righteous Judge
• 04 -Set up the Generations - Chose Israel
• 05 -No Other Gods - History Proves It
• 06 -Delivered Israel
• 07 -First and Last
• 08 -Created the Earth - Orders Earthly Kingdoms - Chose Israel
• 09 -Comparison to Idols
• 10 -Downfall of the Queen of Heaven
• 11 -The Nature of Prophecy
• 12 -Dealings with Israel
• 13 -Messiah
• 14 -Invitation to Salvation
• 15 -Response to the Invitation
• 16 -Holy Spirit for Israel
• 17 -Review
• 18 -Conclusion

Other random Studies from Isaiah:

ch1-6	-- First 6 chapters
6:7	-- Touched vs Applied
9:6	-- Son, Savior, Sovereign
13-14	-- Howl! Babylon is Fallen!
ch24-27	-- Observations on 'Wrath' from Isaiah
ch30	-- Rebellious people
ch31	-- God or Egypt?
33:13-17	-- Hear, See, Speak No Evil
45:9-12	-- Name & Claim?
57:1-2	-- When the Righteous Die
ch58	-- Cry Aloud!
63-64	-- the Son's Wrath... 'bring it on'
ch66	-- Contrite & Trembling

                             "Who is God?"
                     God of Abraham, Isaac & Israel

"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long will you falter 
between two opinions? If Jehovah is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow 
him...you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of 
Jehovah; and the god who answers by fire, He is God." (1Ki18:21,24)

When the prophets of Baal have spent the better part of the day dancing 
around, cutting themselves, then at the time of the "evening sacrifice" 
Elijah builds an altar to God, gathers the people around, and prays...

"Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day 
that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done 
all these things at Your Word. Hear me, O Jehovah, hear me, that this 
people may know that You are Jehovah God, and that You have turned their 
hearts back to You again." (1Ki18:36-37) 

Recently we considered in "To the Unknown God" how paganism knows there 
is the Most High. In spite of the deities they worship, their hearts and 
consciences know there is a God above all other gods, the One who 
created the universe, and sustains life. (Ac17:28) He has made Himself 
known through creation. (Rom1:20) 

But did God merely set creation in motion, and then adopt a "hands off" 
policy, to force man to fend for himself, and "grope" in darkness, 
without some guideposts along the way? Or does God periodically 
'challenge' man to face facts, and 'prove' Himself to man? In the case 
of Israel, even though they knew His wonders, they rebelled; and so God 
comes and challenges... Let's decide once-for-all exactly 'who' is God. 

God says essentially: Let Me prove Myself to you.

And this is what God does in the book of Isaiah: "Let all the nations be 
gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can 
declare this and cause us to hear former things? Let them bring out 
their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, 
It is true." (Is43:9)

The days in which we are living are climactic to the summation of human 
history. In a recent e-mail to subscribers (not posted at the website) 
we considered how the current "war on terrorism" is actually a war 
between Allah vs Jehovah. The followers of Allah exist in every corner 
of the world, and desire to take over the earth. Their primary enemy is 
Israel. America, due to it's perceived label as being a "christian" 
nation is also their enemy. The followers of Allah are in a 
life-or-death struggle against Jehovah, or anything that looks like Him. 

There is also a so-called "christian" theology that has emerged with an 
actual name attached to it. Actually, the theology, itself, is nothing 
new. Seminaries have been teaching it for years...and theologians have 
been proclaiming and debating it; even if not with a label, the concepts 
have been there and believed amongst the unregenerate. OPEN THEISM: 1) 
That God does not know the future; 2) that God sometimes makes mistakes; 
3) that God often 'adjusts' His 'will' based on how man reacts to His 
commands, because  4) He doesn't know, for sure, just how man is going 
to respond to Him. As we shall see in this series, this 'doctrine' goes 
contrary to the VERY CORE of God's essence!

And as world events unfold, the same challenge Elijah gave, is given to 
the world today. When John the Emmerser was preparing the way for Jesus, 
he was labeled the "..the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts 
of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the 
just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.." (Lk1:17)  As 
Elijah said to the followers of Baal, the spirit-of-Elijah says to the 
followers of Allah today, and to the apostate "church": "How long will 
you falter between two opinions?" If Allah is god, prove it. If 
humanism, evolution and/or self-deism are true, prove it. 

In the mean time, God has set out in Isaiah a complete set of 
'courtroom' type arguments for His own existence; and He challenges, 
"bring your witnesses" and argue your case. Or if not, hear My case. And 
He sets out His case with Israel, "You are My witnesses, says Jehovah, 
and my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe Me, and 
understand that I am He. Before Me no God was formed, nor shall there be 
after Me." (Is43:10)

Once God is finished presenting His arguments, two things will have been 
established: 1) The Most High is Ruler over all the earth, and is above 
all other dominions. (Dan4:17) "Therefore know this day, and consider it 
in your heart, that Jehovah Himself is God in the heavens above and on 
the earth beneath; there is no other." (Deut4:39)  

And...

2) God is all-knowing. He not only knows all things; past, present and 
future; He "declares" it. It is a certainty: "..declaring the end from 
the beginning, and from antiquity things which are not yet done, saying, 
My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.." (Is46:10)

So, let us consider some of God's Arguments. These will not be in any 
particular order, except as one would come to them while reading through 
Isaiah. As a result, some points will repeat. This study will not 
necessarily be detailed, nor all-inclusive. For a complete picture, it 
is recommended that you read the entire book of Isaiah. The following 
items will be merely some gleanings.

GOD IS...

High and lifted up (Is6:1)

God is "high and lifted up". Even when satan rebelled, he knew God's 
position; he lusted to be "like the Most High". (Is14:14) But notice 
that he could not replace God. He knows God is -most- high. The best he 
could hope for was to be "like" Him. Satan's demons know God's position 
and "shudder". (Jac2:19) When Isaiah, the one about to be called to be a 
prophet (vs8), sees God's grandeur, he bewails, "Woe is me! for I am 
undone!" (vs5) In other words, I've had it! I'm done for! Why? Because 
"I am a man of unclean lips...for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of 
Hosts." There is a difference between God and man. Man tries to claim to 
"be as God" (Gen3:5);  but, "The Mighty God is not a man..." (Nu23:19)


Righteous Judge (Is11:3-4)

"He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes, nor decide by 
the hearing of His ears. But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, 
and shall decide with equity for the meek of the earth." Now, while this 
speaks specifically of Christ's earthly kingdom rule of the Millennium, 
this is God's character. When God judges, He does not do like man does, 
where prosecution and defense present their cases, and then the judge 
and jury listen to 'he said - she said', and they try to figure out the 
evidence as 'slanted' before the court. But Jesus is the One who is 
"..living and powerfully active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, 
piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,  and of joints and 
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  
And there is no creature that is not revealed in His presence,  but all 
things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must give 
answer." (Heb4:12-13) Where earthly human courts present "cases", God 
knows WHAT -REALLY- HAPPENED, and WHY... and judges accordingly.


Set up the Generations, Chose Israel (Is41:4,8-9)

As Paul reviews, "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to 
dwell everywhere on the face of the earth, and has determined their 
pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings..." (Ac17:26) 
Where did all the nations and ethnic diversities originate? Where did 
the races come from? Who formed them? "Who has planned and done it, 
calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, am the 
First and the Last. I am He." And from all these nations He chose out 
Israel: "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the 
seed of Abraham, My friend; whom I have taken from the ends of the 
earth, and called you and set you apart." When we read earlier how 
Israel is God's "witness" (43:10), not only was Israel to proclaim God 
to the world, but Israel is God's "witness" in His court-of-law... to 
testify before the world-court as to God's existence. We'll see this 
more as we progress.


No other Gods - History proves it (Is41:21-26,42:8)

Remember the 'courtroom'? "Present your case, says Jehovah; approach to 
argue your defense, says the King of Jacob. Let them approach, and 
confess to us what shall happen; let them disclose the former things, 
what they are, that we may determine a finding and know the final 
outcome; or proclaim to us things to come." (41:21-22) And God does like 
Elijah did to the prophets of Baal; He taunts. You say you are gods? 
Well prove it. "Make known the things to come after this, so that we may 
know that you are gods." He further taunts, "Yes, do good, or do evil 
(DO SOMETHING!), so that we may anxiously watch it together." (vs23)

There is this TV program that is on during my lunch time, "Crossing 
Over". I watch little bits of it rarely once in awhile. The thing I 
continue to marvel that people are so blind to, is that the man who 
claims to be communicating with the spirits of the dead DOES NOT KNOW. 
The demons feed him little gleanings of information, but then he gets 
the people talking, to -tell- 'him' more specifics. If it was of God, he 
would KNOW the SPECIFICS. All the people can do is "anxiously watch" to 
see if they can find out anything. 

The Most High "proclaims", because He exists. The other so-called gods 
don't. He says, "I am Jehovah (the Existing One); that is My name; and 
My glory I will not give to another...behold, the former things have 
come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth, I 
proclaim them to you." (42:8-9) Why does the Bible contain so much 
prophecy? In order to prove God's existence. When history shows how His 
past declarations have come to pass, we can also know that what is yet 
future will also happen. The Most High has -declared- it. Thus, 
fulfilled prophecy is proof that God exists.

Q/A -You 'are' gods?


Delivered Israel (Is43:10-12)

Remember the 'courtroom'? Here is another argument for God's 'case'. 
"You (Israel) are My witnesses, says Jehovah." You want to know about 
the existence of God? Look at Israel. God declares: "Before Me no God 
was formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and 
there is no one to save besides Me." That's the declaration, and here is 
the evidence of the proof: "I have declared and have saved, and I have 
shown, when there was no strange god among you; therefore you are My 
witnesses, says Jehovah, that I am God". When God did all His mighty 
works for Israel, they were not into idolatry. It was not Chemosh, Baal, 
Ashtaroth, Tammuz, etc who rescued Israel from their troubles. All the 
nations who worshiped those gods brutalized Israel. Only the Most High 
rescued Israel out of their hands, time and time again. Thus, the word 
of this God who saved Israel is also that, He is the 'only' God. There 
weren't any others before Him, and none will follow.


First and Last (Is44:6)

"Thus says Jehovah, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer Jehovah of 
Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and besides Me there is no 
God." (vs6)

Before Jesus touches John who has fallen down "as dead" at the 
appearance of the glorified Jesus, Jesus proclaims, "I am the Alpha and 
the Omega, the First and the Last", and as He touches John He says, "Do 
not be terrified, I am the First and the Last". (Rev1:11,17)

Notice the words here in Isaiah. 'Jehovah', the King -AND- His Redeemer 
'Jehovah'. Both the Father and Son are called "Jehovah", the Existing 
One. And the One speaking, Jehovah-King calls Himself "First and Last"; 
the label ascribed to Jesus, the One who "redeemed" us with His own 
blood. (Rev5:9) Perhaps any who have doubted before can now better 
understand Jesus' claim, "I and the Father are One" (Jn10:30) A 
statement the Jews understood well, as they picked up stones to stone 
Jesus: He was claiming to -be- "God".

How can God declare the "end from the beginning"? (46:10) Because He is 
the "First", the Originator of all things; and He is the "Last", the 
Completer of what He originates.

As He continues the courtroom debate: What other gods can proclaim "as I 
do"? (vs7) He challenges the other gods to show their expertise: to 
found the ancient people, to declare the things that are happening, and 
shall come. As if to say: I CHALLENGE YOU "..let them declare it to 
them.." God basically says: Nobody else does what I do. I'm the only 
One.

With all the other gods there is "fear". There is always appeasement 
against their wrathful whims. But God says, "Fear not, nor be afraid; 
have I not told you and declared it since then? Thus, you (Israel) are 
My witnesses..." (vs8)  And then God waxes 'cute' again. When Russia 
sent the first man into space, the cosmonaut looked around and said 
something like, "I don't see God up here." Of course, being atheistic, 
they were taunting any notions of a "Christian" God. But God does the 
very same thing. He says, "Is there a God besides Me? Yea, there is no 
other rock. I have not known any." (vs8b)  Is there some other god 
besides Me?  Hey, I've been looking around, and don't see any! I've not 
met them!


Created the Earth - Orders Earthly Kingdoms - Chose Israel (Is45)

One of the things Nebuchadnezzar learned when God humbled him and turned 
him into a beast for seven years, was that "..the Most High rules in the 
kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He will." (Dan4:17) When Cyrus 
ruled, he makes an edict, "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: Jehovah, the 
God of Heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He has 
commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah." 
(Ez1:2)

God has done many things. He created the earth "to be inhabited" (45:18) 
Thus far, man has not found life in any other place in the universe. For 
all of science fiction that is fun to watch with its Vulcans, Klingons, 
Duridians, etc...that is all make-believe. It is not real. When the 
earth was first dropped into orbit around the sun, it was "without form 
and void" (Gen1:2) just like all the other planets man has found out 
there. But then, the Genesis account describes how God took earth and 
put "life" on it. The balance of earth's ecosystem is the only one of 
its kind. Slight variances in things like distance from the sun, speed 
of revolution, chemical attributes, the nature of gravity, etc...would 
make the present system of life on earth impossible. And man was 
designed and created to live on 'this' earth which God made for the 
purpose. Man cannot live outside of earth's immediate environment. With 
technology he has managed to attain to a few hundred miles above the 
earth in orbit. But that is as far as he will ever get...because God 
made -earth- for man; not the Moon, Mars, or any other place.

And out of earth's population He also chose a specific family of people. 
Israel. It was not Israel's greatness or righteousness for which reason 
God chose them. He speaks to Cyrus and tells Cyrus that He is the "God 
of Israel" (vs3) Now as we progress through this chapter the lines 
become a little blurred as to who God is talking to in every case; Cyrus 
or Israel.

But notice that Israel is God's "elect". Is it Cyrus whom God has 
"entitled"? And for what purpose might that be? In order for Cyrus to 
issue a decree that frees Israel from captivity, to go re-build the 
temple in Jerusalem. Cyrus ruled the world's super-power of the day. 
Earlier, God said of Nebuchadnezzar, who took Israel into captivity, 
that he was God's "servant" (Jer25:9) for the purpose of disciplining 
Israel. God orders the course of global politics to work on behalf of 
His 'elect', Israel. And even as this is being prepared/written, is it 
possible that we are seeing a shift in American politics for the purpose 
of supporting Israel properly? What other things might yet happen to 
make the US more inclined to God's will for Israel? We wait and see. But 
while man thinks that he (man) is in charge of his own destiny, it is 
actually God who rules...even over unbelievers; "..though you have not 
known Me." (vs4b)  They are "ordained by God" (Rom13:1)

Or is it Israel that God "entitled" by calling them His "elect"? There 
are plenty of other places that speak of Israel being God's own special 
people. This verse, in its context, could equally be speaking of Israel 
or Cyrus.

But God's works in creation and ordering the world is for one purpose; 
"..that they may know from the rising of the sun, to its setting, that 
there is none besides Me. I am Jehovah, and there is no other." (vs6) 
And how does God reveal Himself to the world?

He formed "light" and "darkness". (vs7) He makes it rain. (vs8) And he 
uses the illustration of how rain nourishes the ground, so that 
vegetation can grow, in terms of how He wishes for "righteousness" to 
flourish on the earth. As Jesus said about Eternal Life being like 
"water springing up". (Jn4:14) So, as God makes life flourish on earth, 
who is man to rebel against God and say, I don't like what You have 
made. God made it; thus, how dare we condemn Him for His creation! (vs9)

Today man would have Israel give up the land God gave them, because to 
the followers of Allah, Israel has no "right to exist" as a people. 
Well, this is what God says to them: "Do you ask Me of things to come? 
Do you give command to Me about My sons, and about the worked of My 
hands?" (vs11) Would man try to tell God how to deal with Israel? Would 
they seek to annihilate His 'elect'? Just a reminder: "I have made the 
earth, and created man on it; I, with My hands, have stretched out the 
heavens; and all their host have I ordained." (vs12) And man, with his 
most powerful telescopes has yet to fathom the furthest extent of the 
universe...so, they would think to do wrong to God's 'elect'?

The followers of Allah wish to annihilate Israel. Even segments of those 
falsely calling themselves the "church" proclaim that Israel is "done 
for". But this God, who proves Himself with the created universe, and 
the ordaining of the world's kingdoms (even ordering Cyrus vs13), also 
proclaims, "But Israel shall be saved in Jehovah with an everlasting 
salvation. You shall not be ashamed nor humiliated to everlasting 
eternity." (vs17)  

So, in God's dealings with Israel, and His orderings of world empires on 
Israel's behalf... what is the whole purpose? Why does God do all this? 
It is something that has been known ever since the beginning, "..from 
antiquity.." that "..there is no other God besides Me; a just God and a 
Savior; there is no one besides Me." (vs21)

Now, is God a terribly "proud" God, just looking for 
self-aggrandizement? No. He has gone to all these lengths to say this:

"Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and 
there is no other." (vs22) This is God's desire. Contrary to the false 
doctrines of the Reformation, God did not purpose for any to perish, but 
that "all should come to repentance". (2Pet3:9) God certainly chose 
Israel to be His "elect". But it was not His purpose to save -only- 
Israel; but His invitation is to "all" the "ends of the earth". When He 
sent His Son to die, it was so that "-everyone- believing into Him" 
might not perish, but receive salvation. (Jn3:16)

Now, whether man receives God's salvation or not, will not change one 
thing. Just as He stretched out the heavens, and orders the world 
kingdoms and rulers for His purposes, in the end eventually "every knee 
shall bow, every tongue shall swear." (vs23, Php2:10) Everyone will 
confess that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. They will confess 
that "Only in Jehovah do I have righteousness and strength." Some will 
be able to claim this "righteousness" for themselves, because they did 
"turn to" Jehovah. 

But just because a person knows that salvation comes from God, does not 
mean they will be saved. The demons "believe" that fact, but also 
"shudder". (Jac2:19) Because why?  "And they shall be ashamed, all who 
are angry with Him." (vs24b) Those who rebel against God saying, God 
didn't make me...I am here by "chance" (evolution). Oh, God wouldn't 
condemn anybody to everlasting "torture" in Hell...I don't believe in 
that kind of God. They do not "love Jehovah their God". (De6:5) The 
opposite of love is hate. Those who hate God will "be ashamed".

But God's work for Israel... God is going to give them a new heart 
(Jer31:31-34, Ez36:26) They will be "justified, and shall glory". (vs25)


Comparison to Idols (Is46)

"To whom will you compare Me, and make Me equal; and compare Me, that we 
may be alike?" (vs5)

Idols are heavy and a burden. In Isaiah's day they used beasts of burden 
to carry them. (vs1) When a people are taken captive, even their idols 
"[go] into captivity". (vs2) They take precious metals, melt them down, 
cast them, chisel and pound on them to make them into shapes. They must 
be carried. When it is set down, it cannot move on its own. If one bows 
to it, kisses it, and prays to it, it cannot answer. (vs6-7)

God always implored Israel to "Remember". "Remember the former things 
from a long time ago; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and 
no one else is like Me." (vs9) What had God done for Israel? He had 
formed them into a nation, delivered them out of Egypt with signs and 
wonders, gave them a land, and made them into a nation. 

After describing the idol, how does God describe Himself? Idols cannot 
answer when prayed to; but God -DECLARES- the "end from the beginning". 
Remember? His is the "first" and "last". Things which He proclaimed 
"from antiquity" which are not yet done, He proclaims, "My counsel shall 
stand, and I will do all My pleasure". (vs10) And 'how' will He fulfill 
His word? Even to using "a bird of prey from the east, the man who 
executes my counsel from a far country". (vs11)  And God used 
Nebuchadnezzar, His "servant" (Jer43:10), from a "far country", a 
"distant land" (2Kg20:14)  God declared it, and history has shown how it 
came to pass.

God, being the "first" and "last" is unique. Three things God 
continually repeats in Isaiah:  1) He is God, and there is no other, 2) 
His calling card is His declaring the past, present and future, and 3) 
His choosing and care for Israel. God proclaims, "I am God, and no one 
else is like Me" (vs9) and then gives his proof (remember, we are in 
that courtroom, and God is arguing His case), "declaring the end from 
the beginning" (vs10), and then gives the foretelling of Israel's 
captivity... which history and later Scripture proved out.

God "declaring". That is an interesting word. God is not like the man on 
"Crossing Over", or like the practitioners of charismania, who claim to 
proclaim things, but then also scratch their heads, fishing from their 
hearers further details. He -DECLARES- a matter. When God came to visit 
Abraham to tell him he was having a son, and Sarah laughs, and God asks 
why she laughed, and she denies it, God says, "No, but you did laugh." 
(Gen18:15) God -knows-. When Daniel is standing before Nebuchadnezzar, 
interpreting his dream; all the magicians and fortunetellers were doing 
like Crossing-Over and charismania..."tell us the dream, and we will 
interpret it" (Dan2:4) Give us at least a 'hint'... some 'clues'. Then, 
we will spin some ideas around, and come up with something to satisfy 
you. But Nebuchadnezzar wanted -proof- of authenticity. "Therefore, tell 
me the dream, then I shall know that you have the ability to explain the 
interpretation to me." (Dan2:9) But not so with Daniel, who received the 
matter from God. And when he finished telling the king  the 1) dream 
-and- its 2) interpretation; he closes by saying, "And the dream is 
certain, and the interpretation of it is sure." (Dan2:45b)  O, king, you 
wanted authentication. Hopefully this has proved to you that, "He who 
reveals secrets makes known to you what shall come to pass." (Dan2:29) 
He tells the king the dream and does not ask, "Is that it? Was I close?" 
But rather, "THIS IS THE DREAM. Now we will tell the interpretation of 
it.." (vs36) And when God's power is shown through His servant Daniel, 
what is the result to the king?  He, the king, prostrates himself and 
proclaims, "Your God truly [is] a God of gods and a Lord of kings, and a 
Revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret." (Dan2:47)

That's it. One of the reasons God does all that He does, is to -prove- 
Himself to mankind. Even down to the 'timing' of Israel's redemption out 
of Egypt, in recounting the matter Moses says, "..the -appointed- time 
that you came out of Egypt." (De16:6b)

God is different from all others. Man cannot fathom it. "He has made 
everything beautiful in its time; also He has set eternity in their 
hearts, so that no man can find out the work that God has made from the 
beginning to the end." (Ecc3:11)

Q/A -You 'are' gods?


Downfall of the Queen of Heaven (Is47)

"Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the 
ground. There is no throne for you, O daughter of the Chaldeans. For you 
shall no more be called tender and delicate...you shall no more be 
called the Queen of Kingdoms...Now therefore hear this, O voluptuous 
one, who lives securely; who says in her heart, I am, and there is no 
one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the 
loss of children. But these two things shall come to you in a moment in 
one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you 
in their fullness for the multitude of your sorceries, and for the great 
power of your enchantments." (vs1,5,8-9)

Please read this entire chapter for yourselves. But here, in this one 
chapter we see the downfall of that 'woman'. In Revelation "Babylon" is 
spoken of. In chs17-18 is recorded the future of its downfall. There are 
things within those chapters that make us look at the church of Rome. 
There are also things that make us wonder about the UN, and world 
commerce, and New York City as being the location where these things are 
centered. There are some self-proclaimed prophets who suggest that one 
reason Saddam needs to be gotten rid of is because he has been 
re-building the old Babylon at its original location. All these details 
of all those things will come to light as those prophecies are 
fulfilled.

However, this chapter 47 of Isaiah narrows down very specifically 
who/what one of the aspects of those prophecies is all about. And it 
focuses our attention squarely on that woman, "Jezebel". (Rev2:20) 
Throughout history, in various world-centers, she has been known by 
various names. After Babel she began to be known as Isis in Egypt. 
During the days of Israel and her judges and kings, she was known as 
Ashtaroth (Jug2:13) and Queen of Heaven. (Jer7:18)  As the world powers 
became centered in Greece and Rome, she was called Aphrodite, Libertas, 
Artemis. And when the Roman empire took on the label "christian", she 
took on the name "Maria". 

Under Roman domain she has been made to be more "pure" seeming, being 
called the "virgin", and endowed with -perpetual- virginity. While she 
has been given Jesus' attributes as "advocate" before God, and is not 
typically thought of in sensual ways, her predecessors were. The 
so-called "Mary" is portrayed to be a 'holy' advocate. But in her prior 
mutations, she was a goddess of fertility. When a particularly 
attractive woman is being especially appreciated, and drooled over by 
male admirers, one expression the thusly-captivated male might say is, 
"She's a -goddess-!" As "Christians" who know God's Laws on morality, we 
understand the concepts of purity and fidelity; and that is part of 
God's holiness. God's Law required punishment for whoredom, lewdness, 
lasciviousness. But the pagan goddesses were creatures of lust, allure 
and enticement. Prior to the so-called "Mary", many are the depictions 
of uncovered legs and bared breasts.

The above Scripture quotes are taken from the VW-Edition. The term 
"voluptuous" is actually what the text says. The goddess of fertility, 
supposedly responsible for fruitful crops, and endowments to the fruit 
of the womb; having many children. 

Notice God's judgment upon her in vs2. Uncover the veil...a symbol of 
modesty. Strip off the skirt, bare the thigh. That which she was used to 
doing for allure, now is forced upon her in judgment. Much like when 
some women are raped. (Now please, ladies, don't go ballistic on me 
here! Read this in context.) Yes, many rapists are depraved and would 
rape anything that would give them pleasure, or boost their power/ego. 
But how many are the cases where a woman is raped, and she complains 
about it; but what was her normal behavioral trend? She was used to 
getting herself up to 'allure' the male, gain the whistles and admiring 
looks. For what? To be seen in a sexual way, to be seen to be an object 
of desire to a man, in the bed. And so, a man seeing her 'invitations', 
"accepts". Only, now, on her own personal whim she decides she doesn't 
-want- it. Well, sorry lady...as some say about such situations, "You 
asked for it!" And some do not have much sympathy for such a woman who 
is abused. She was "out there", exposing herself, smiling and batting 
her eyelashes in language that men understand to say, "Come and take 
me." So, a man came and 'took' her. So now she sits there, crying, "I 
got raped!!" That -terrible- maaan!! It doesn't matter to her that he 
did what she invited him to do. How about so-called "date-rape"? The 
girl spends all evening enticing and alluring her male companion; but 
when the evening ends up going "all-the-way", she complains that she was 
"raped"! She was spending all evening turning the switches "on", and 
then has the nerve to complain that he didn't turn it "off". She got 
exactly what she was after! Or the hussy who was making-the-rounds at 
the tavern to all the men, sitting on laps, giving out kisses, wiggling 
various parts of her body suggestively, flirtingly...and then the men 
collectively gang-rape her. Oh, those "terrible men", right? Well, yes. 
But also, she spent all evening "asking for it"...so they gave it to 
her.

Well...you see...regarding the Queen of Heaven...she is going to get 
exactly what she was enticing others to do. "Render to her just as she 
rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup 
which she has mixed, mix double for her." (Rev18:6) "Your nakedness 
shall be uncovered, yea, your shame shall be seen; I will take vengeance 
and I will not meet you as a man." (Is47:3)

Now how do we know this is speaking of the same one who is now called 
"Mary"? Rome has another name for "Mary". In their prayers they also 
call her "Queen of Heaven". 

Notice what she says about herself...

She says, "I shall be queen forever" (vs7) And also "who says in her 
heart, I am, and there is no one else besides me.." (vs8)  Are these not 
God's attributes, which she claims for herself!  God -is- Jehovah, the 
existing One. Satan aspired to be "like the Most High". (Is14:14) But 
this Queen says, "I am". Is that not how Jesus identified Himself, 
"before Abraham came to be, I AM". (Jn8:58) That is God's 'memorial' 
name, "I AM THAT I AM" (Ex3:14)  This Queen has sought to totally usurp 
the Most High, and not only be equal to Him, but to -REPLACE- Him 
totally. Since God is Someone "else" compared to her, and she claims 
there is "no one else", she is proclaiming that God does not exist. And, 
in practice, is this not what the church of Rome has done? They have 
given Mary Christ's advocacy attributes. They name the name of "Jesus", 
but they -worship- "Mary", not Christ! The current pope has been quoted 
saying that Mary has his highest adoration. She is highest on his list. 
Above Jesus, above the Father...well, the pope is called "father". Not 
to mention everything else it says in the passage about her occult and 
demonic connections; that also fits Rome. Whatever the pope proclaims 
usurps the Scriptures, God's Word.

But notice her downfall. "Therefore evil shall come upon you, and you 
shall not know its origin. And disaster shall fall upon you, and you 
shall not be able to cover it over. And desolation shall come upon you 
suddenly, which you shall not be informed of." (vs11) Notice that 
Babylon's fall is "in one hour" her "judgment has come". 
(Rev18:10,17,19) And notice that it is given to the "beast" to destroy 
her. "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the 
harlot,  make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and consume her with 
fire.  For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to 
be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words 
of God are fulfilled." (Rev17:16-17)  Ah yes...remember above, how God 
is in control of world powers and kingdoms to His own will and purposes.

Perhaps the current war-drums will address the followers of Allah? But 
then, Babylon/Rome/Mary/Queen of Heaven will also come crashing down.

And notice who else will receive understanding at her downfall. "..and 
all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the inner thoughts 
and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works." 
(Rev2:23)

See also: Revelation: Babylon Destroyed (Rev18) & Queen of Heaven


The Nature of Prophecy (Is48:1-8)

"I even declared it to you from the beginning. Before it happened I 
proclaimed it to you, lest you should say, My idol has done them, and my 
graven image and my molten image has commanded them." (vs5)

Satan lusted to be "like the Most High". (Is14:14) What is one of the 
primary activities of satanism and the occult? Fortunetelling. When you 
go to various fairs, where there is a collection of stands selling 
little trinkets, jewelry, and other things, what else is usually there? 
Little booths with palm readers, tarot card readers... fortunetellers. 
What is their claim? To tell you things about yourself you don't already 
know, tell you things about people close to you or family members 
(calling up the dead), or to predict the future. Due to their satanic 
'powers' sometimes they are right. But quite often they are also NOT 
right. God told Israel that the way they could tell a false prophet was 
when the predictions did not come to pass. (De18:22)  The predictions of 
the likes of Nostradamus are claimed to be 70%. A few years ago when the 
Toronto Revivals were making a big splash, and one of their leaders was 
interviewed on a national network news TV program, he claimed 70% 
accuracy of their prophecies. The way democratic societies function, 
anything over 50% "wins". For some things a 60-67% margin is required. 
Thus, to the natural mind 70% seems "overwhelming". To -man-! But not to 
God!  70% might have been 'right', but 30% WAS NOT. 30% DID NOT COME TO 
PASS. They are not of God. (De18:22)

Those who are not of God spend inordinate amounts of time trying to 
impress people with their prophetic abilities to "predict", so that they 
can say, "Behold, I knew them." (vs7) They claim to have visions and 
revelations: "the Lord -revealed- to me...!"

Remember, God is the "First and the Last". He says, "I have declared the 
former things from the beginning..." and then "I acted suddenly, and 
they came to pass."

Who is prophecy for? Is it a real "spiritual" thing to know prophecy? If 
a person has -the- "gift" to foretell things, are they somehow "closer" 
to God's wisdom? Notice who God prophesies for...

"..because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew 
and your brow bronze." 

A person who is in a continual walk with God, praying "without ceasing" 
(1Th5:17), does -not- 'need' prophecy. He is in continual fellowship, 
and so, like Ezekiel's vision of the cherubim and wheels (Ez10:16-17), 
when the cherubim went, the wheels (with the spirits) went together; so, 
too, we who know the Lord and are indwelt by His Holy Spirit (Rom8:9)... 
wherever God works, the Believer is with Him, because "we have the mind 
of Christ". (1Cor2:16)  Certainly, prophecy helps confirm God's word to 
the Believer; but Abraham "believed God" and was accounted as 
"righteous" (Gen15:6), when he has only God's promises...not their 
fulfillment. 

Thus, prophecy is -primarily- not for the faithful, but for unbelievers, 
the "obstinate" and rebels, for God to -prove- Himself to them...to 
differentiate Himself from satan's idols. 

[Note: in 1Cor14:22 the word "prophesying" refers to "preaching or 
teaching", not -FORE-telling or predicting the future.]


Dealings with Israel (Is48--)

Now, let's take some brief looks at some passing comments. For fuller 
insight, please read the entire passages; this isn't intended to cover 
every detail nor to be in-depth. Just some little 'spot' observations.

(48:9-11) God's dealings with Israel are so that God's name not be      
defiled. Even though they rebelled, He doesn't "cut them off", for His 
-own- praise. God does not give His glory to others.

(48:12) God is the first and last.
(48:13) God is the creator of the universe.

(48:16) The Trinity. There are many who think the doctrine of the     
"Trinity" is a 'catholic' doctrine. They don't think it exists  in the 
Bible. Others realize it exists in the N.T. (Mt28:19, Lk3:22)  But most 
scholarly Jews do not acknowledge it, feeling it contradicts God's 
statement, "Jehovah is One" (Deut6:4)

Notice that in this chapter -Jesus- is speaking. Jesus the "Word" 
(Jn1:1) "My hand..laid the foundations" (vs13) and speaking of "Jehovah" 
(vs14) in the third-person. And notice in vs16, "I was there; and now 
the Lord Jehovah, and His Spirit, has sent Me"; agreeing with how when 
Jesus was immersed, the Holy Spirit descended on Him visibly like a 
dove, and the Father's voice from Heaven spoke to Him. (Lk3:22)

(48:20) Israel's redemption proclaimed. It is not only Paul's 
declaration in Rom11:26, but Isaiah said it first. (Is30:15, 45:17) God 
loves Israel, and notice His yearning after them, "Oh that you had paid 
attention to My commandments!" (vs18)

(49:2)  Commissioning of Christ, whose mouth is "like a sharp sword".   
See how Heb4:12-13 is talking about Jesus Christ? not           
necessarily the 'Bible'?

(49:5)  When Jesus was born in human form, He was sent to Israel, in    
order "to bring Jacob back to Him". He "came unto His own, and  His own 
did not receive Him." (Jn1:11) And yet, even though Israel rejected, 
Christ was still "glorious in the eyes of Jehovah".

(49:6)  Thus, when Israel rejected Him, Jesus was also "for a light to  
the nations". "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the 
authority to become children of God, to those believing into His name.." 
(Jn1:12) After all, God so love "the world". (Jn3:16) When the Jews 
rejected the Holy Spirit, Paul proclaims, "..the salvation of God has 
been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!" (Ac28:28)

(49:13-17)  God does not forget Israel. Like a nursing mother cares for 
her newborn, so God cares for Israel. And even if a mother did abandon 
her young (which some do), "yet I will not forget you" (vs15) 

Just the other day one of my customers came to pick up their order, and 
I noticed all the writing on their hand, and up their wrist. Instead of 
carrying a piece of paper with scribbled notes, they had written things 
on their hand, with pen/ink; so we joked about it a little. But, one's 
hand does not get 'lost'. A little piece of paper can slip away, and 
fall to the ground, be lost, and the things written forgotten. But a 
hand is attached. God says, "I have engraved you on the palms of My 
hands". (vs16) Israel is -always- in God's mind, even when they are 
suffering  the consequences of their disobedience. And God promises that 
those afflicting Israel "shall go out from you". (vs17b)  And notice 
that God hasn't used 'ink' that can wash off. He "engraved" them.

(49:18-23)  A picture of Israel's return to the land. (vs18-20) As they 
return in droves. (vs21) And the nations of the world shall bring Israel 
back to their land. (vs22) This will include world rulers; kings as 
'fathers', and queens as 'wet nurses'. (vs23) And this care for Israel 
will be with great respect for Israel as they "bow down to you, with 
faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet." Those who had 
done Israel wrong, now caring for her tenderly. There has already been a 
gruesome picture of this after the WW2 Holocaust, as the document film 
footage showed German -officers- being forced to physically carry the 
dead corpses of Jews to the burial pits. But in the end, the rulers will 
also be caringly bringing Israel back.


Messiah (Is50-55)

The Father gives the Son the Word, and He was not "rebellious" (50:5). 
As having "come in the flesh" (1Jn4:3), having partaken of "flesh and 
blood" (Heb2:14), and as flesh, learning "obedience" (Heb5:7-8), he 
-could- have chosen to rebel. After all, satan was given liberty to have 
a go at Him, to tempt Him. (Mt4:1) But what Jesus spoke and taught, He 
spoke what was given from the Father. (Jn8:28, 15:15) While we know that 
Jesus "gave" His life, this authority was given from the Father. 
(Jn10:18) All the works Jesus did were from the Father. (Jn10:32) And 
His coming rule with the "rod of iron" is also from the Father. 
(Rev2:27, Ps110:1)

As Jesus was a physical human representation of the Father, the "image 
of His essence" (Heb1:3), everything Jesus said and did was to show 
humanity the Father. Thus, as Jesus "gave" (50:6) Himself to those who 
whipped and abused Him, that was in reverse imagery in actuality 'God' 
they crucified.

(51:15-16)  When God parted the Red Sea for Israel to pass over, it is 
important for all to know exactly just 'who' did it. "Jehovah of Hosts 
is His name". It is this same who declares to Zion, "You are My people". 
Many of the world scoff at "Zionism". When they do so, they are scoffing 
at "Jehovah of Hosts". The "hosts" of the armies of Heaven, the armies 
through which He will redeem His elect, Israel, as He crushes the world 
powers. The followers of Allah yell out, "Allah Akbar" when they attack 
God. When God overthrows them, His name is, "Jehovah of Hosts!"

(52:6-15)   Right now Israel does not know their God. They have not 
nationally acknowledged their Messiah. But when God has overthrown the 
nations, and Messiah is physically reigning, "My people shall know My 
name" (vs6) And from those many nations "kings shall shut their mouths 
at Him" (vs15) And this One who rules they will recognize. Israel will 
"mourn for Him" (Zec12:10), and the kings of the nations will have to be 
silent at Him, because they taunted "..prophesy! Who struck You?" 
(Mt26:68) as they disfigured His appearance "more than any man". And so, 
as He was disfigured, 'now' He will "be exalted and extolled and be very 
high." (vs13-14)

(ch53)  Jesus is portrayed as the slaughtered lamb. (vs7) He "gave" His 
soul as a "sin-offering" (vs10)  At all the various annual  feasts in 
Israel, they would always offer a multitude of various sorts of animal 
sacrifices. But in amongst all the different offerings, of which some 
were done, animals by the hundreds, there was always, for each occasion, 
the "one goat as a sin offering" (Num28-29) He was the "Lamb, without 
blemish and without spot" (1Pt1:19), "slain from the foundation of the 
world" (Rev13:8)

Jesus said He came to "fulfill" the Law. (Mt5:17) What He was fulfilling 
was the Father's requirement in order to "justify many" as He "shall 
bear their iniquities". (vs11)


Invitation to Salvation (Is55)

So, was it enough that Messiah should die, bearing all our iniquities, 
and giving His soul? Many of the world's religious denominations speak 
of Jesus' crucifixion. In fact, many of them have statues, icons and 
depictions of Jesus hanging on the cross, with the crown of thorns, and 
blood 'still' coming out of His body. Many proclaim that Jesus is "still 
bleeding" for mankind. And as some proclaim Jesus 'body' in their 
communions, in some demonic cases, the element actually turns into 
"blood" for them. One person who e-mailed recently, deriding VW's stance 
against charismania and tongues, claimed that the true church today 
began in 1917, and that part of their experiences of spirit-filling 
include visions and "blood". But NO!  Jesus is -not- "still" bleeding. 
He died "once for all". (Heb7:27) When He had completed His work He 
pronounced with a loud voice from the cross, "It has been finished!" 
(Jn19:30)

But they leave out something. The "invitation". Jesus invited, "Come 
unto Me, all who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest". (Mt11:28) The invitation is, "Ho..." A word which suggests, "Hey 
you over there! all busy rushing around with your concerns and labors... 
Let me have your attention, please!" "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to 
the waters.." (vs1) What are the waters? Jesus offered the woman of 
Samaria waters "springing up to eternal life" (Jn4:14), as He spoke, His 
voice was "as the sound of many waters" (Rev1:15)

"..come to the waters.." (Jesus Christ) and "without price" come acquire 
food and drink for (spiritual) sustenance. Salvation is the "gift of 
God. Not of works.." (Eph2:8-9)

Yes, "Extend your ear, and come to Me; hear, and your soul shall live.." 
(vs3) See this word "extend"?  It's like a person facing the one 
speaking, giving full attention, and cocking the head to "extend" the 
-good- ear to hear with all best clarity, so as not to miss anything.

The invitation is to "Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call upon Him 
while He is near." (vs6) Because, "..everyone who shall call on the name 
of the Lord shall be saved.." (Ac2:21) Not just some elect few. 
Salvation is -available- to "all". God does not desire, He "did not 
purpose" for any to perish, but that "-ALL- should come to repentance." 
(2Pt3:9)

But you see, there's the rub. "Repentance". People like the part about 
"seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you" (Mt7:7); 
but they don't much care for the part that is included in God's 
invitation, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his 
thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah." (vs7) Today's doctrine of 
graeeesss proclaims God's "mercy on him" and "abundant pardon" -without- 
"repentance" or subsequent changed life. 

Yes, come to the "free" waters and drink, and partake of the "Bread of 
Life" (Jn6:35,48) ...BUT DON'T BE A FOOL! You must "FORSAKE" the -SIN-! 
It is not enough to simply say, "I believe, I believe! Hallelujah, I'm 
on my way to Heaven because I got 'aboard' the 'gospel train'." The 
demons also "believe and shudder". (Jac2:19)  "..God is not mocked; for 
whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his 
flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit 
will of the Spirit reap eternal life." (Gal6:7-8) "He who covers his 
sins shall not prosper; but he who confesses and forsakes them shall 
have mercy." (Pr28:13)


Response to the Invitation (Is57--)

God "inhabits eternity" (57:15)  Science speaks of a space-time 
continuum. Science fiction speaks of space and time "folding" around 
itself, creating vortices. As humans we think in terms of a -place- 
"where" we live. But remember we have already noted that God is the 
"First and Last". He inhabits "time". And seeing as how He is "eternal", 
His dwelling is "timeless".

Those who have confessed and forsaken their sin in repentance, other 
terms also apply: "humble" and "contrite". That is what repentance is. 
Humility and contrition. Those who are of such a heart, their dwelling 
is with God. There habitation is "eternal" with Him. (vs15)

God's anger against sin will not remain forever, nor will He contend 
forever. His invitation is to come to Him "while He is near" (55:6) A 
time will come when He pronounces, "..the time is at hand. He who is 
unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy 
still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, 
let him be holy still." (Rev22:11)

While the righteous will inhabit Eternity with God, the wicked "are like 
the troubled sea, which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 
There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked." (57:20-21) You see, 
another picture of Salvation is "rest"; entering into His rest. (Heb4:1) 
But the wicked "..have no rest day or night.." (Rev14:11)

And so, while the righteous are in His presence, once that "time" has 
been reached, God will 'satisfy' His anger, put the wicked into the Lake 
of Fire (Rev20:14-15), where "..their worm does not die, nor is their 
fire quenched; and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." (Is66:24)

Q/A -Worm Does Not Die?


Holy Spirit for Israel (Is59:21)

In the O.T. the Holy Spirit apparently did not reside within each person 
of Israel, but would "come upon" (Jug3:10) or "rushed upon" (Jug14:6,19) 
special people for special service. If Israel had not rejected Christ, 
and the subsequent coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they could 
-be- today's "Church". But they rejected. (Ac7:51) And so, the aspect of 
the indwelling Holy Spirit has been a predominantly 'Gentile' -Church- 
characteristic.

So now, as we see how God is to restore Israel to favor, how is He going 
to accomplish that? "..this is My covenant with them, says Jehovah; My 
Spirit that is upon you, and My Words which I have put in your mouth, 
shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your 
seed...from now on and forever." (59:21)

Where they had been looking at God's Law as merely -physical- things 
which they 'did', they, too, will experience what has been the Church's 
characteristic: they, too, will be indwelt by God's Holy Spirit.

"Behold, the days are coming, says Jehovah, that I will make a new 
covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah,  not 
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that 
I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; My 
covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, says 
Jehovah.  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of 
Israel: After those days, says Jehovah, I will put My Law in their 
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and 
they shall be My people.  And they shall no more teach each man his 
neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall 
all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says 
Jehovah. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will 
remember no more." (Jer31:31-34)  "I will also give you a new heart and 
put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your 
flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ez36:26)  


Review (Is63:12-14)

God brought Israel out of Egypt, led them through the Red Sea by the 
hand of Moses "..to make for Himself an everlasting name.." (vs12) He 
made a nation out of them and led them "to make for [Himself] a glorious 
name" (vs14) He did all this for Israel with "no foreign gods" (De32:12) 
God pronounces, "..I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I 
kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can 
deliver out of My hand.  For I raise My hand to the heavens, and say, As 
I live forever.." (De32:39)  Israel and the world is to understand "that 
Jehovah Himself is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath; 
there is no other." (De4:39)


Conclusion (Is66)

"Thus says Jehovah, Heaven is My throne, and earth My footstool. Where, 
then, is the house that you would build for Me? And where is the place 
of My rest?" (vs1)

Israel today is yet in unbelief. Those in Israel who are 'closest' to a 
concept of Jehovah, seem to have it in their minds that, the thing which 
is keeping their nation from God's blessing is that they are not busy 
re-building the next temple in Jerusalem. That in the "G-dly time" they 
need to be about the task of leveling the mosques that are in the way, 
laying the cornerstone, building the temple, and resuming the 
sacrifices.

But notice this chapter 66 comes at the 'end' of Isaiah, just as we are 
in the end times. As we know from Jeremiah, in the Messianic kingdom 
there will not be the ark: "And it shall come to pass, when you have 
multiplied and increased in the land in those days, says Jehovah, that 
they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of Jehovah! Nor shall it 
come to mind; nor shall they remember it; nor shall they seek it; nor 
shall it be made anymore." (Jer3:16)  It almost sounds like God is 
saying here: Why are you concerned about a physical temple? As we noted 
above, God does not so much inhabit a "place", but is "eternal". How 
does man go about to suppose he can make a "place" in which to confine 
the Most High? As Solomon prayed, "But will God indeed dwell on the 
earth? Behold, heaven and the Heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How 
much less this house which I have built!" (1Kg8:27)

No, God does not wish for a human-built temple. He has already said that 
Messiah will build it. (Zec6:12) So, why should man be usurping what God 
has said He will do?

No, rather... "But to this one will I have regard: To the lowly and 
contrite of spirit, and the one who trembles at My Word" (vs2)

A time of global judgment is yet coming. And those who survive will go 
throughout the world to "declare [God's] glory among the nations" 
(66:19b) And Israel will be brought back to its land, "on horses, and in 
chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on camels...and I will also 
take some of them for priests and for Levites, says Jehovah" (vs20-21) 
Many wonder how the Levitical "line" will be ascertained to fill the 
priesthood. They will come from those who return. God will do it.

And as we have observed at other times how some major changes will 
happen to the earth, by the time the major earthquake levels all the 
mountains flat, and 'possibly' the earth is flung into a different orbit 
farther away from the sun (Job9:6, Is13:13, Zec14:6-7), here he speaks 
of the "new heavens and the new earth, which I will make". This 
certainly speaks of this present earth which will have gone through the 
catastrophes, being "healed" (Ez47:8-9), because there will be a moon 
for there to be "new moon" celebrations. (vs23) This is not the new 
heavens and earth (Rev21:1) where there is "no sun" (Rev22:5) after 
these heaven and earth have been burned in the "fire". (2Pt3:7) But God 
is going to "fix" this earth for Messiah's peaceful rule, where the lion 
eats straw like the ox, etc. (Is11:7, 65:25)

God has always been known as the "..the God of Abraham, the God of 
Isaac, and the God of Jacob." (Ex3:6) The sons of Ishmael today equate 
the Most High as Allah. But He is not the god of Ishmael. Israel today 
is yet in unbelief, and is not yet totally free of world repression. And 
not all of Israel are yet back in the Land God gave to Abraham and his 
seed. (Gen12:7) But after God has finished making Himself fully known to 
the world, Israel will return:

"You shall also suck the milk of the nations, and suckle the breast of 
kings; and you shall know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your 
Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." (Is60:16)

Amen!

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