Perhaps I'm off base; I know I'm usually blissful and that may indicate more than mere happiness, I know. Anyway, I'm not one to dodge an issue. I'm bound to learn something.
Another response questioned why I thought these two chapters were prophecy (as opposed to history or current events, I'm supposing).
Let me deal with the prophecy issue first.
My Old Testament is the King James Version. I'll defer to whatever source you prefer to use if any of my points hinge on the way those English dudes did their translation of the scriptures.
In verse 65 (my verse 17) "For, behold, I create new heavens and new earth and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind."
I think God (through Isaiah) is talking about the future, not the past. If anyone thinks I'm off on this, please let me know.
If we can agree that this one passage is prophecy, then the issue becomes whether chapters 65 and 66 in their entirety are prophecy.
I don't think so. I think Isaiah references past sins of his people (in chapter 65 before the quoted passage above). I think the rest of chapter 65 and all of chapter 66 is prophecy in Isaiah's time without question.
If we are in agreement so far (and we may not be) then the question is whether or not the prophecy in the last part of Ch. 65 and all of Ch. 66 has been fulfilled or is yet to be fullfilled.
There are some passages that have not yet occurred if they are taken literally. To me, Isaiah is talking about the millenial kingdom. If you believe that the millenial kingdom will not be a literal 1000 years of messiah's reign, then we don't have much to discuss. If you don't think an actual wolf and an actual lamb will feed together, we can stop now.
If anyone still reading this thread believes that the scripture is to be taken literally--that God inspired Isaiah to write the words he actually wrote down (not necessarily the ones I see in my KJV Old Testament) I'll explain why I came to the conclusion that Jews will be missionary minded in the future after reading these two chapters.
In Chapter 66, Isaiah talks about a group of people who will be sent into the nations to declare God's glory among the Gentiles. This group "shall bring all your brethern for an offering unto the Lord . . . " and God will "also take of them for priests and for Levites"
Clearly the people being brought back are Jews (Levites and priests are taken from them). I think the group of people going out into all nations are also Jews. Otherwise, God would be using Gentiles to gather some of his people back to his holy mountain.
Smiling Ted: This is why I drew my conclusion about Jews being more missionary minded. If they are declaring God's glory to the Gentiles, that's being a missionary.
Please let me know what you think. I would like to learn all I can from any who care to comment.
Emily S-C
Originally Posted by EmilySC
Smiling Ted,
thanks,
Your input is very valuable.
I was reading in Isaiah 65 and 66 last night and it certainly looks like Jews are to BE more missionary minded in the future.
Really. Where in Isaiah 65/66 does it say that?
__________________
Smiling Ted
Who knows why he's smiling
Another response questioned why I thought these two chapters were prophecy (as opposed to history or current events, I'm supposing).
Let me deal with the prophecy issue first.
My Old Testament is the King James Version. I'll defer to whatever source you prefer to use if any of my points hinge on the way those English dudes did their translation of the scriptures.
In verse 65 (my verse 17) "For, behold, I create new heavens and new earth and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind."
I think God (through Isaiah) is talking about the future, not the past. If anyone thinks I'm off on this, please let me know.
If we can agree that this one passage is prophecy, then the issue becomes whether chapters 65 and 66 in their entirety are prophecy.
I don't think so. I think Isaiah references past sins of his people (in chapter 65 before the quoted passage above). I think the rest of chapter 65 and all of chapter 66 is prophecy in Isaiah's time without question.
If we are in agreement so far (and we may not be) then the question is whether or not the prophecy in the last part of Ch. 65 and all of Ch. 66 has been fulfilled or is yet to be fullfilled.
There are some passages that have not yet occurred if they are taken literally. To me, Isaiah is talking about the millenial kingdom. If you believe that the millenial kingdom will not be a literal 1000 years of messiah's reign, then we don't have much to discuss. If you don't think an actual wolf and an actual lamb will feed together, we can stop now.
If anyone still reading this thread believes that the scripture is to be taken literally--that God inspired Isaiah to write the words he actually wrote down (not necessarily the ones I see in my KJV Old Testament) I'll explain why I came to the conclusion that Jews will be missionary minded in the future after reading these two chapters.
In Chapter 66, Isaiah talks about a group of people who will be sent into the nations to declare God's glory among the Gentiles. This group "shall bring all your brethern for an offering unto the Lord . . . " and God will "also take of them for priests and for Levites"
Clearly the people being brought back are Jews (Levites and priests are taken from them). I think the group of people going out into all nations are also Jews. Otherwise, God would be using Gentiles to gather some of his people back to his holy mountain.
Smiling Ted: This is why I drew my conclusion about Jews being more missionary minded. If they are declaring God's glory to the Gentiles, that's being a missionary.
Please let me know what you think. I would like to learn all I can from any who care to comment.
Emily S-C
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