A People Taught Jehovah's Way

Isaiah tells us more about those who embrace pure worship today.  He says:  "Many peoples will certainly go and say:  'Come, you people, and let us go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.'  For out of Zion law will go forth, and the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem." -Isaiah 2:3.

Jehovah does not let his people wander about like lost sheep.  Through the Bible and  Bible-based publications, he imparts to them his "law" and his  "word" so that  they lean his ways.  This knowledge equips them to "walk in his paths."  Out of hearts filled with appreciation and in harmony with divine direction, they speak to one another about the ways of Jehovah.  They gather together at large conventions and in smaller groups-At Kingdom Halls and in private homes-so as to listen to and learn the ways of God.  (Deuteronomy 31:12, 13)  Thus they imitate the pattern of  the early Christians, who met together to encourage and incite one another to abound in "love and fine works." -Hebrews 10:24, 25.

They invited others to "go up" to the exalted worship of Jehovah God.  How well this harmonizes with the command Jesus gave to his disciples just before his ascension  to heaven!  He told them:  "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you."  (Matthew 28:19, 20)  With divine backing, Jehovah's Witnesses obediently go throughout the earth, teaching and making disciples, baptizing them.

Next time: Swords Into Plowshares

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Worship Exalted in th Lives of People

Jehovah deserves all credit for the elevating of pure worship in our time.  Still, those who approach him are privileged to share in this work.  Just as it requires effort to climb a mountain, so, too, it requires effort to learn of and live according to God's righteous standards.  Like Christians in the first century, God's  servants today have left behind life-styles and practices that are not compatible with true worship.  Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, greedy persons, drunkards, and others have changed their ways and been "washed clean" in God's sight. -1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Typical is the experience of one young woman who wrote:  "I once was lost with no hope.  I lived a life of immorality and drunkenness.  I had sexual diseases. I also sold drugs and just didn't care about anything."  After studying the Bible, she made major changes in order to conform to God's standards.  Now she says:  "I enjoy peace of mind, self-respect, a hope for the future, a real family and, best of all, a relationship with our Father, Jehovah.

Even after coming to an approved standing before Jehovah, all must continue to elevate pure worship by giving it a place of prominence in their lives.  Thousands of years ago, through Isaiah, Jehovah expressed his confidence  that there would be multitudes today eager to make his worship the most important thing in their lives.  Are you among them?

Next time: A People Taught Jehovah's Way

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Conclusion of The Elevating of Pure Worship

During this time of harvest, Jehovah has progressively helped the anointed remnant to understand and apply his Word, the Bible.  This too has contributed to the elevating of pure worship.  Though 'darkness itself covers the earth,and thick the national groups,' the anointed are "shining as illuminators" among humankind, having been cleansed and refined by Jehovah.  (Isaiah 60:2; Philippians 2:15)  "Filled with accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension," these spirit-anointed ones "shine as brightly as he sun in the kingdom of their Father." -Colossians 1:9; Matthew 13:43.

Moreover, others have streamed to "the mountain of the house of Jehovah."  Called by Jesus his "other sheep," These have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. (John 10:16; Revelation 21:3, 4) Starting  in the 1030's, they appeared by the thousands, then by the hundreds of thousands, and now by the millions!   In a vision given to the apostle John, they are described as "a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues." -Revelation 7:9.

The prophet Haggai foretold the appearance of this great crowd.  He wrote: "This is what Jehovah of armies has said.  'Yet once -it is a little while- and I am rocking the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry ground.  And I will rock all the nations [those  who} join anointed Christians in pure worship] must come in; and I will fill this house with glory,'  Jehovah of armies has said."  (Haggai 2:6, 7) The existence of this still-growing "great crowd" and their anointed companions elevates, yes glorifies, pure worship in Jehovah's house.  Never before have so many been recorded as united in the worship of the true God, and this brings glory to Jehovah and his enthroned King, Jesus Christ.  King Solomon wrote:  "In the multitude of people there is an adornment of a king." -Proverbs 14:28.

Next time: Worship Exalted in the Lives of People

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000

The Elevating of Pure Worship

The prophet says that "the mountain of the house of Jehovah," or pure  worship, would become  "firmly established above the top of the mountains" and be lifted up above the hills."  Long before Isaiah's time, King David brought the ark of the covenant up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, which was located 2,500 feet above sea level.  There the ark rested until it was transferred to the completed temple on Mount Moriah.  (2 Samuel 5:7; 6:14-19; 2 Chronicles 3:1;  5:1-10)  Thus, by Isaiah's day the sacred  ark had already been physically elevated and placed in the temple, in a position higher than the many surrounding hills used for false worship.

Of course, in a spiritual sense, Jehovah's worship has always been superior to the religious practices of those who serve false gods.  During out day, however, Jehovah has exalted his worship heaven high, above all forms of unclean worship, yes, far above all "the hills" and "the top of the mountains."  How so?  Largely through the gathering together of those who want to worship him "with spirit and truth. -John 4:23.

Christ Jesus referred to "a conclusion of a system of things" as a time of harvest when the angels would gather in "the sons of the kingdom" - those with the hope of ruling with Jesus in heavenly glory.  (Matthew 13:36-43)  Since 1919,m Jehovah has empowered  "the remaining ones" of these sons to share with  the angels in the harvest work.  (Revelation 12:17) Thus, to start with, "the sons of the kingdom,"  Jesus' anointed brothers, are the ones gathered.  Then they share in further gathering work. 

Next time: Conclusion of The Elevating of Pure Worship

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000

A Mountain in Which to Worship

In a few words, Isaiah paints a vivid prophetic picture.  We see a lofty mountain, crowned by a glorious house, the temple of  Jehovah.  This  mountain towers above surrounding mountains and hills.  Yet, it is not foreboding or intimidating; it is appealing.  Peoples of all nations yearn to ascend to the mountain of the house of Jehovah; they stream to it.  This is to visualize, but what does it mean?

In Isaiah's day hills and mountains are often associated with worship.  For example, they serve as sites for idolatrous worship and for sanctuaries  of false gods.  (Deuteronomy 12:2; Jeremiah 3:6)  However, the house, or temple of Jehovah adorns the summit of Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. Faithful Israelites journey to Jerusalem three times a year and ascend Mount Moriah to worship God.  (Deuteronomy 16:16)  So the streaming of the nations to "the mountain of the house of Jehovah" pictures the gathering of many peoples to true worship.

Today, of course, God's people do not gather at  a literal mountain with a temple of stone.  Jehovah's temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman armies in 70 C.E. Besides, the apostle Paul made it clear that the temple in Jerusalem and the tabernacle that preceded it were pictorial.  They represented a greater, spiritual reality, "the true tent, which Jehovah put up, and not man."  (Hebrews 8:2) That spiritual tent is the arrangement for approaching Jehovah in worship based on the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  (Hebrews 9:2-10, 23)  In harmony with this, "the mountain of the house of Jehovah" mentioned at Isaiah 2:2 represents the exalted pure worship of Jehovah in our time.  Those embracing pure worship do not gather at any geographic location; they gather in unity of worship.

Next time: The Elevating of Pure Worship

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Nations That Stream to Pure Worship

Isaiah chapter 2 begins with these words:  "The thing that Isaiah the son of Amoz visioned concerning Judah and Jerusalem: and it must occur in the final part of the days that the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established  above the top of  the mountain, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it all the nations must stream." -Isaiah 2:1, 2.

Notice that what Isaiah foretells is not mere speculation.  Isaiah is directed to record events that "must occur" -without fail.  Whatever Jehovah purposes has "certain success."  (Isaiah 55:11)  Evidently to give emphasis to the reliability of his promise, God inspired the prophet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, to record in his book the same prophecy that is set out at Isaiah 2:2-4. -Micah 4:1-3.

When is Isaiah's prophecy to be fulfilled?  "In the final part of the days."  The New International Version reads: "In the last days."  The Christian Greek Scriptures foretold features that would identify this period.  Included among them are wars, earthquakes, pestilences, food shortages, and "critical times hard to deal with."  (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Luke 21:10, 11)  The fulfillment of such prophecies gives abundant evidence that we are living   "in the final part of the days,"  the last days of this present world system.  Logically, then, we would expect to see fulfilled in our time the things that Isaiah foretold.   (we already are seeing them)

Next time: A Mountain in Which to Worship

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind - Jehovah's House Lifted Up

Jehovah's House Lifted Up

"THEY shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation.  Neither shall they learn war any  more." These words are inscribed on wall at the United Nations plaza in New York City.  For decades the source of that quotation was not identified.  Since the aim of the UN is to work toward global peace, it was easy to conclude that the quote originated with the founders of the UN, in 1945.

In 1975, however, the name Isaiah was chiseled  into the wall below the quotation.  It was then evident that the words  were not of modern origin.  They were, in fact, recorded as a prophecy over 2,700 years ago in what is now the 2nd chapter of the book of Isaiah.  For millenniums lovers of peace have pondered over how and when the things Isaiah foretold would occur.  There is no longer  any need to wonder.  Today  we see before us the remarkable fulfillment of this ancient prophecy. 

Who are the nations that bear their swords into plowshares?  Surely, they are not the modern-day political nations and governments.  Until now these nations have developed swords, or weapons, both to wage war and to preserve "peace" through strength.  If anything, the tendency has always been for nations to beat  their plowshares into swords!  Isaiah's prophecy finds fulfillment in representatives from all nations, people who worship Jehovah, "The God of peace." -Philippians 4:9.

Next time: The Nations That Stream to Pure Worship

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Conclusion of Jehovah Will Refine His People

Idolatrous Judeans face something worse than shame, though.  Shifting the illustration, Jehovah now likens the idolater himself to a tree.  "You will become like a big tree the foliage of which is withering, and like a garden that has no water."  (Isaiah 1:30) In the hot dry climate of the Middle East, this illustration is apt.  No tree or garden can last for long without a steady supply of water.  Dried up, such vegetation is especially vulnerable to fire.  Hence, the illustration in verse 31 follows naturally.

"The vigorous man will certainly become tow, and the product of his activity a spark; and both of them will certainly go up in flames at the same time, with no one to do the extinguishing."  (Isaiah 1:31)   Who is this "vigorous man"?  The Hebrew expression conveys the sense of strength and wealth. It likely refers to the prosperous , self-assured follower of false gods.  In Isaiah's day, as in our own, there is no shortage of men who reject Jehovah and his pure worship.  Some even seem successful.  Yet, Jehovah warns that such men will be like "tow," coarse fibers of flax so frail and dry that they tear apart, as it were, at the very smell of fire.  (Judges 16:8, 9)  The product of the idolater's activity-whether his idol-gods, his wealth, or whatever he worships in place of Jehovah-will be like the igniting  "spark."  Both spark and tow will be consumed, wiped out, in a fire that no one can extinguish.  No power in the universe can overturn Jehovah's perfect judgments.

Is this final message compatible with the message of mercy and forgiveness in verse 18? By all means!  Jehovah has such warnings written down and delivered by his servants because he is merciful.  After all, "he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance."  (2 Peter 3:9)  It is the privilege of every true Christians today to proclaim God's warning messages to mankind so that repentant ones may benefit from his generous forgiveness  and live forever.  How kind is it on Jehovah's part to give mankind a chance to "set matters straight" with him before it is too late!

Next time: Jehovah's House Lifted Up

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000

Continue with Jehovah Will Refine His People

Continue with Jehovah Will Refine His People

In 1919, Jehovah's modern-day people emerged from the period of testing.  They were delivered from spiritual bondage to Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion.  The distinction between that faithful anointed remnant and the apostate clergy of Christendom became clear.  God again  blessed his people, 'bringing back for them judges and counselors'-faithful men who counsel God's people according  to his Word and not according to the traditions of men.  Today among the diminishing "little flock" and their increasing millions of  "other sheep" companions, there are thousands of such men. -Luke 12:32; John 10:16; Isaiah 32:1, 2;  60:17. 61:3, 4.

Elders keep in mind that they do, on occasion, act as "judges" in the congregation in order to keep it morally and spiritually clean and to correct wrongdoers.  They are deeply concerned with doing things God's way, imitating his merciful, balanced sense of justice.  In most matters, though, they serve as "counselors." This, of course, is a far cry from being princes or tyrants, and they make  every effort never to give even the appearance of "lording it over those who are God's inheritance." -1 Peter 5:3.

What about the "dross" mentioned in the prophecy of Isaiah? What happens to those who refuse to benefit from God's refinement process?  Isaiah continues:  "And the crash of revolters and that of sinful ones will be at the same time, and those leaving Jehovah will come to their finish.  For they will be ashamed of the mighty trees that you people desired, and you will be abashed because of the gardens that you have chosen." (Isaiah 1:28, 29)  Those who revolt and sin against Jehovah, ignoring the warning messages of his prophets until it is too late, do indeed "crash" and "come to their finish."  This happens in 607 B.C.E. What, however, do these references to trees and gardens mean?

The Judeans have a persistent problem with idolatry.  Trees, gardens and groves often figure in their debased practices.  For example, worshiper of Baal and his consort, Ashtoreth, believe that in the dry season, the two deities are dead and buried.  To prompt them to awaken and mate, bringing fertility to the land, the idolaters gather to carry out perverted sexual acts under "sacred" trees in groves or in gardens.  When rains and fertility come to the land, the false gods receive the credit; the idolaters feel confirmed in their superstitions. But when Jehovah brings the rebellious idolaters to their crashing finish, no idol-gods protect them.  The rebels are "ashamed" of these impotent trees and gardens.

Next time: Conclusion of Jehovah Will Refine His People

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind

Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind - Jehovah Will Refine His People

Jehovah Will Refine His People

Jehovah will not tolerate such abuse of power forever.  Isaiah continues:  "Therefore the utterance of the true Lord, Jehovah of armies, the Powerful One of Israel, is: 'Aha! I shall relieve myself of my adversaries, and I will avenge myself on my enemies.'" (Isaiah 1:24)  Jehovah is given three designations here, emphasizing his rightful lordship and his vast power.  The exclamation "Aha!" likely signifies that Jehovah's pity is now mixed with determination  to act upon his wrath. There is certainly reason for this.

Jehovah's own people have made themselves his enemies.  They fully merit divine vengeance. Jehovah will "relieve," or rid, himself of them.  Does this mean a complete permanent obliteration of his name people?  No, for Jehovah goes on to say:  And I will turn back my hand upon you, and I shall smelt away your scummy dross as with lye, and I will remove all your waste products."  (Isaiah 1:25) Jehovah now uses the refining process as an illustration. A refiner in ancient times often added lye to help separate the dross from the precious metal.  In a similar way, Jehovah, who does not see his people as completely wicked, will 'chastise them to the proper degree.'  He will remove from them only the "waste products"-the stubborn, undesirable ones, who refuse to learn and obey.  (Jeremiah 46:28) With these words, Isaiah has the privilege of writing down history in advance. 

Jehovah did indeed refine his people, removing the scummy dross of corrupt leaders and other rebels.  In 607 B.C.E., long after Jehovah's time, Jerusalem was destroyed and its inhabitants led off for the 70-year exile in Babylon.  This in some ways parallels and action God took much later.  The prophecy at Malachi 3:1-5, written long after the Babylonian exile, showed that God would again do a refining work.  It pointed to the time when Jehovah God would come to his spiritual temple accompanied by his "messenger of the covenant," Jesus Christ.  This evidently happened at the end of World War I.  Jehovah inspected all of those claiming to be Christians, sifting the true from the false.  With what result?

Jehovah answers:  "I will bring back again judges for you as at the first, and counselors for you as at the start. After this you will be called City of Righteousness, Faithful  Town.  With justice Zion herself will be redeemed, and those returning of her, with righteousness."  (Isaiah 1:26, 27)  Ancient Jerusalem experienced an initial fulfillment of this prophecy.  After the exiles returned to their beloved city in 537 B.C.E., there were once again faithful judges and counselors like those of the past.  The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the priest Joshua, the scribe Ezra, and the governor Zerubbabel all served to guide and direct the faithful returning remnant to walk in God's paths.  However, an even more important fulfillment occurred in the 20th century.

Next time: Continue with Jehovah Will Refine His People

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind