My immediate impression is that this text could be relevant for the present time as we approach the Second Advent of Lord Jesus Christ.
Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD but has since been rebuilt. Particular note is taken of the fact that the rebuilding of Jerusalem is taking place now as part of modern day (Judea) Israel. After all, Isaiah was speaking to the Judahites—otherwise known as Jews. In fact, there is a prophecy in Ezekiel, using symbolism, which foretells that the sins of the people of Israel would be accounted for over time and the land would be once more restored. The sins of Israel and Judah as nations were compounded and penance was handed down—expulsion from the land.
In saying that the sins of Israel and Judah were dealt with by means of a sentence—wherein descendants of Jacob would be destroyed and driven from the land or city of Jerusalem—this has nothing to do with retribution required for individual sins and atonement only being available through the blood of the Son of God. This has to do with the state of Israel as a nation created by God and the promise that was given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the Israelites that came out of Egypt.
Many people are unable to distinguish between the Old Testament reference to the nation of God among the nations of men and New Testament introduction to the Kingdom of God that dwells within the hearts of those who acknowledge their need for eternal life.
The words to which you refer in Isaiah are below:
Comfort, comfort my people,An exposition of the above is beyond the limits of this response; so in stating the obvious, we are definitely looking at an apocalyptic end, when justice shall be meted out and every one shall be standing at the same level before the Judge of all the Earth.
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
(Isaiah 40:1-5)
John the Baptist came crying like one in the wilderness, as he announced the coming of the Word made flesh (John 1:14), who was to usher in the Kingdom of God.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight.”
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”Since that time, the Kingdom of God has been growing in the hearts of many and we are approaching the fulfillment of what is spoken in Isaiah 40:1-5, rather than its beginning (Matthew 3:2-12). The Apostle Paul was clear about this:
(Matthew 3:2-12)
Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written,The nation of Israel was elected to be exalted among the nations of the Earth; not the various individuals themselves. Because of this, the individuals who make up the nation Israel could be as evil as they like—each one will be judged individually according to their works (Ezekiel 18:23-32). Therefore, the nation as a corporate body (like a corporation) exists but the people belonging to it can come and go, and this does not affect the election of the nation. What each one does is a personal matter and to be a part of the true people of God—the true Israel as opposed to the temporal one according to genes—is to belong to the Vine (John 15:1-6).
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
“and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
(Romans 11:25-28)
Events point to the return of Lord Jesus Christ, where the prophecies in Isaiah and Romans will be fulfilled. Now is the time to repent and get ready; lest you be found wanting and miss out on being raised to meet the Lord, on that Day when He appears again.
- And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
Be Wise: Make Straight The Ways Of The Lord Before That Great And Terrible Day
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