Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind - A Desolated Land

A Desolated Land

In the first century, Israel went through its final crisis as God's covenant people.  When Jesus presented himself as the promised Messiah, the nation rejected him, and as a result, Jehovah rejected them. (Matthew 21:43; 23:37-39; John 1:11) Was this the end of Jehovah's having a special nation on earth? No. The apostle Paul showed that Isaiah 1:9 had yet another fulfillment. Quoting from the Septuagint version, he wrote:  "Just as Isaiah had said aforetime: 'Unless Jehovah of armies had left a seed to us, we should have become just like Sodom, and we should have been made just like Gomorrah.' " -Romans 9:29.

This time the survivors were the anointed Christians, who put faith in Jesus Christ.  These were, first of all, believing Jews.  Later they were joined  by believing Gentiles.  Together they made up a new Israel, "the Israel of God."  (Galatians 6:16; Romans 2:29)  This "seed" survived the destruction of the Jewish system of things in 70 C.E. Indeed, "the Israel of God" is still with us today.  It has now been joined by millions of believing individuals of the nations who make up "a great crowd, which no man [is] able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues." -Revelation 7:9.

Soon this world will face the battle of Armageddon.  (Revelation 16:14, 16)  While  this will be a crisis greater than either the Assyrian or the Babylonian invasion of Judah, greater than even  the Roman devastation of Judea in 70 C.E., there will be survivors.  (Revelation 7:14)  How vital, then, that all consider carefully Isaiah's words to Judah! They meant survival for faithful ones back then. And they mean survival for believing ones today.

Next time: "Let Us Set Matters Straight"

From the Book Isaiah's  Prophecy Light for all Mankind