Warning from the Bible
Inroduction.
In the following very brief summaries of the first 6 chapters of Isaiah we find quite a startling message. The Peoples of Israel are addressed. These comprise the Jews of Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes among Western Peoples. In many ways the descriptions given fit the present situation. We are being warned. In some ways the present situation, in the State of Israel and the USA, may seem better than it used to be. We may be improving. If we better our ways we may be able to mitigate the Days of Wrath. If not we are liable to face the disasters Isaiah is wanring us against. At all events we all need to better our ways and do as well as we can.
Summary of Individual Chapters:
Chapter 1: Isaiah begins his prophecy (1:1) from the viewpoint of (a) Judah and Jerusalem. The People of Israel are Children of the Almighty but they do not act like it but are a sinful nation (1:4). They are physically and ecologically suffering for their sins (1:7). Alien foreigners are taking over (1:7). If God did not have mercy upon us we would be destroyed altogether (1:10). Even now, God is showing us mercy. Thing are not as bad as they could have been.Your prayers and worship however will not be accepted unless you act righteously (1:12-16) meaning especially the practice of social justice with protection and care for the vulnerable (1:17). If we repent God will forgive us and show us favor (1:18-19) but if not violence will overtake us (1:20). Violence, fraud and graft are among our major offences (1:21-23). This will eventually change. The "bad eggs" among us will be removed (1:24-25, 28).
Righteous rulers (judges) and counselors will come forth and show us the way to Redemption (1:26-27). This applies especially to "Zion" (1:27) who according to Midrash Tanchuma in Prophecy can also represent Joseph. "Joseph" mainly represents the English-speaking peoples. We will be ashamed of our pagan practices and punished through them and for them (1:29-31).
Chapter 2: Isaiah turns again to Judah and Jerusalem (2:1). There is a Flash Forward to the Future. In the End Days the Temple will be rebuilt and all the Peoples of the World will come up to Jerusalem for instruction (2:2-4). There will be no more war. The energies formerly expended in Warfare will be channeled to economic enterprises (2:4).
The House of Jacob is called upon to go in the way of the Almighty (2:5). Until now the House of Jacob (Yanks and Union Jack) have denied their Israelite origins and brotherhood with Judah ("REJECTED THY PEOPLE") and followed pagan foreign practices. Eastern Religions are fashionable (2:6). The House of Jacob is immensely wealthy and full of automobile-chariots (2:7). Their culture is materialistic and emphasizes the acquisition of wealth in an idolatrous way (2:8) at the expense of human dignity (2:9). They will try to take refuge in underground shelters from the wrath of God (2:10). God will be glorified and Israel (Lebanon, Bashan, Tarshish) along with all other nations humbled (2:11-17). When people run and hide under the earth they will discard their idolatry and acknowledge that only the God of Israel is true (2:18-21).
Chapter 3:
The Chronolgical Arrangement of these messages is not always lineal. To some degree the Prophet moves from one period in time to another and then back again. Jerusalem and Judah will suffer from lack of water and food (3:1). They will lack leadership (3:4) and will oppress each other with no respect for age or position (3:5). Judah and Jerusalem will suffer because of their wickedness but the righteous amongst them will be watched over (3:10). Women and children will rule the People of God because of their sins. This may be partially necessary in some cases BUT it still a punishment (3:12).
Oppression of the poor, and deliberate sexual provocation by women will bring disaster upon Zion (Joseph and Judah) (3:15-15). This includes severe physical afflictions that leave ugly symptoms and cause physical repulsion in others (3:17-24). Young men will die in battle and strategic points ("gates") be lost (3:26). The Possession of strategic Points (Gates of your enemies", "Gates of those who hate you") had been a blessing promised to Israel (Genesis 22:16-17 24:60).
Chapter 4: The losses will be so great that there will not be enough males for all the women who will then endeavor to enter into polygamous relationships (4:1).
Those who survive in Zion and Jerusalem will be sanctified and upraised by the Almighty (4:2-3). We will be rehabilitated (4:4). A supernatural Cloud by day and a Fire by night will appear over the physical area of Mount Zion (4:5).
Chapter 5: Isaiah (5:1-2) relates a parable of his friend who bought a vineyard and invested heavily in its development and upkeep but the vineyard only brought forth worthless fruit. Jerusalem and Judah are that vineyard which will have to be demolished (5:3-6).
The parable however applies even more so to The House of Israel (The Ten Tribes) who spill blood and lack justice (5:7). Judah was supposed to bring forth good fruit through association with the House of Israel but both sides failed (5:7). They who pursue development at ecological expense are condemned (5:8) alongside they who devote themselves to self-indulgence and partying (5:11-12). Because of these offences the People of the Almighty are sent into Exile due to their own lack of knowledge. Hunger will strike them both in the physical and spiritual sense (5:13). The best families will perish (5:14). At this stage God will be exalted (5:16).
[It is a recurring theme in Isaiah that from the depths of despair will emerge salvation and everything be turned over again from bad to good].
Isaiah condemns they who continue to sin and look forward to the End Times or defy the bad results of their actions (5:19). They call evil good and good evil both in ideology (5:20) and in deed (5:21-23). They are traitors to the People of the LORD GOD of Israel (5:24).They shall be punished just as they caused punishment to come upon their fellow men (5:25). Hordes of foreigners from a distant nation at the geographical extremity of a continental land mass (5:26) will attack with rockets, guns, armored vehicles and flying machines (5:28). They will take captives and darken the sky (5:30). This could be the Chineses though other candidates exist. The recent vicious sadistic attacks of Arab agaisnt the Jews near the borders with Gaza are a warning sign as to what is liable to take place on a much larger scale unless we repent.
Chapter 6. Isaiah had a vision in which he saw the angels worshipping the Almighty in which he was chosen as a messenger to the people (6:1-9). It was destined that the people would hear but deny or fail to comprehend until it will be too late and the whole Land shall be desolate (6:11). Only a tenth will remain and they too will undergo severe tribulation (6:13).