Isaiah Introduction

The 14 Aims of Prediction:

The aim of Prophecy is to induce people to repent and to draw them closer to God. Biblical Prophecy predicts and these predictions can be categorized under distinct headings. Don Isaac Abarbanel was responsible for such a categorization. Don Isaac Abarbanel (1437-1509) at various times was a minister and advisor to the several governments of his age in Europe (Spain, Portugal, Naples, Apulia, Corfu, Venice). He admired England, which at that time was still only a small, sparsely populated, country - the USA did not then exist. He was also a prominent Jewish religious authority and philosopher and a foremost Biblical commentator.
He considered the Book of Isaiah to be the most important of the Prophetical books in the Bible. In his opinion the Biblical Prophecy has 14 goals. Isaiah addresses all 14 goals of Prophecy whereas each of the other Prophets deal with only part of them: each one having his own speciality.

These 14 goals are to predict:

1. That God will take revenge from those who harmed Israel. Cf. Isaiah 18:1.

2. That vengeance be taken against Edom* and "Batsra" (i.e. Bosrah cf. Isaiah 34:6).

3. The Salvation and Redemption of Israel and the ingathering of the exiles. Isaiah 11:11 18:1 26:1 35:2 49:8 51:12 60:1 65:8 66:1

4. THAT IN THE FUTURE REDEMPTION THE TEN TRIBES WILL RETURN. These had been exiled by the Assyrians and did not return in the Second Temple Era. Isaiah 11:11 24:14-15. Isaiah 24:
14 THEY SHALL LIFT UP THEIR VOICE, THEY SHALL SING;
FOR THE MAJESTY OF THE LORD
THEY SHALL CRY ALOUD FROM THE SEA [West].
15 THEREFORE GLORIFY THE LORD IN THE DAWNING LIGHT,
THE NAME OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL IN THE ISLES OF THE SEA [coastlands of the West].

5. The future redemption will be similar in many aspects to the Redemption from Egypt, Isaiah 11:11 51:9.

6. There is a time limit after which Redemption has to come, whether we
deserve it or not. If we merit redemption sooner we will obtain it. Isaiah
34:8 35:8 41:28, etc.

7. That the Redemption will occur a very long time after the Exile. Isaiah 49:14.

8. In the time of Redemption the Divine Presence and Prophecy will once
again be found amongst the Israelites. Wisdom and knowledge will increase.
Isaiah 11:9 18:4 40:5 60:1

9. In the Future Redemption all the sinners of Israel who left Judaism and
assimilated amongst the Gentiles (whether by coercion or through seduction)
will repent and return unto the God of their fathers. Isaiah 43:2 59:20 60:21

10. A king from the House of David will rule and be recognized as
descended from David. He will possess wisdom and judgement. Isaiah 11:1 42:1

11. After the final redemption there will be no additional exile. God will
change human nature. Isaiah 51:22 52:1 60;18

12. After the final redemption most of those nations who remain will accept
the God of Israel and turn to Zion for instruction. Isaiah 2:2 2:3 18:1 19:1.

13. There will be universal peace. This will be a true peace and not like
the "peace" that has become a curse word due to evildoers. Isaiah 2:4
11:6 19:23 65:25

14. Resurrection of the Dead, Isaiah 24:1 49:14 66:10

Edom and Batra. Edom traditionally means Germany and Rome. In Biblical times Bosra (i.e. "Batsra") was a major city of Edom to the east of Israel. Later, the term "Batsra" was often taken to mean Byzantium. Byzantium was located on the site of present-day Istanbul where Turkey meets Europe. Byzantium -Istanbul was also known as Constantinople. The Roman Emperor Constantine for administrative purposes had divided the Roman Empire making Byzantium the capital in 330 CE and renaming it Constantinople. Later Rome retained control of the western section of the Empire and Byzantium of the eastern. The eastern section used Greek (instead of Latin) and was dominated by Greek culture. The religion of Christianity also divided along Greek-Latin lines. Russia was converted from the Greek side. That is why the major church of Russia is a branch of Greek Orthodoxy. The Moslem Turks eventually overran Byzantium and replaced Christianity in that area. Consequently Russia came to regard itself as the guardian of Greek Orthodox Christianity and the Russian Tsars as heirs to the Eastern Roman Empire of Byzantium. cf. Isaiah 34:1 63:1.