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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. |
Judah and Jerusalem – Natural Israel. By the time this prophecy will have begun to be fulfilled, spiritual Israel will be beyond the veil. SM736:1
Isaiah's prophecies repeatedly mingle and commingle the events of his day with the events of our day; intruding the Messianic Millennial Kingdom into the prophecies which specially relate to natural Israel. R2372:5
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| 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. |
In the last days – When the last member of the elect Church of Christ shall have passed beyond the veil. SM730:2, R735:T, R362:3
That the mountain – The Kingdom. C235; D628; E44; R1914:2, R5990:1
Of the LORD'S house – Of the house of Jehovah. E44
"Whose house are we." (Heb. 3:6) R269:2
Messiah's Kingdom, represented on earth by Israel, as the divine channel of blessing, with the Ancient Worthies, as princes in all the earth. SM730:1, SM731:1, SM732:2, SM733:1
Established – Now being established permanently; when the first resurrection is complete. R172:1, R3175:5, R5990:1
In the top of – Overruling other kingdoms. D628, E44
It will be the chief mountain or Kingdom. R4990:1
The place of power. R269:2
Superseding. R5990:1
The Temple was permanently established, not only in Jerusalem, but in the top of the mountain. R172:1
Not only true of the spiritual Kingdom, but including also an earthly Kingdom of "Israelites indeed" headed by the resurrected Ancient Worthies. SM732:2
As a "city set on a hill that cannot be hid." (Matt. 5:14) R338:5, R421:6
The mountains – All earthly kingdoms. D628; E44; R5990:1, R4990:1; SM732:2
Shall be exalted – This exaltation began in April, 1878. C235; R5990:2
Above the hills – The smaller governments of earth. R5575:4, R5990:1
Republics. D628
The highest peaks. D628
All nations – This Kingdom will intervene between the divine government and mankind because the fallen race is unable to meet the requirements of the divine law. R5181:2
Shall flow unto it – As the world shall come to appreciate the new order of things, all nations shall flow up to it. SM734:T, SM735:T
The whole world will send to the wonderful "princes" to have them extend everywhere their government, their yoke of righteousness, seen to be so beneficial to Israel. D628
The New covenant will be inaugurated with natural Israel and gradually the whole world will become attached to Israel as part of Abraham's earthly seed. CR485:2
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| 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
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Many people – The world in general. R5428:5; SM735:1; OV85:1; Q60:7
Instead of the Lord's empire being a typical one over the little nation of Israel, it will be the antitypical one, as King over all the earth. R2550:3
Shall go and say – When disturbed by the commotions and trouble of the Epiphania, the Apokalupsis of the King in the pouring out of the seven last plagues. R2957:1, R2975:4, R3869:1
Come ye – They will be completely disgusted with Satan's ruling, and his deceptions, and glad to submit to the reign of Christ. R1233:4
Let us go up – In the time of trouble, and subsequently. R5655:6, R517:4*; Q637:3
Let us submit to the new Kingdom of God. R269:2
All nations will be desiring salvation and the blessings of restitution. R5655:6, R5000:2, R4796:1
Seeing God's blessings coming to the nation of Israel, the others will want a share also. Q170:8, Q205:T, Q210:T
When the iron rod shall have accomplished the work of destruction, then will the hand that smote be turned to heal, and the people will return to the Lord and he shall heal them. A256
As, similarly, representatives of many nations came to hear Solomon. R2053:1
Let us seek protection and render obedience to the Kingdom of the Lord. R687:1
Mountain of the LORD – Kingdom of Jehovah. A297; E44; SM735:1
To the house – Temple. SM735:1
The God of Jacob – The New covenant will be made only with Israel. The only way other nations can receive a share of restitution favors will be by becoming Israelites. R4575:4
The world, weak and awe-struck by the time of trouble, will begin to take notice of Israel's rising again to national life and the blessings bestowed upon them. R4555:3
They will say, he has done for the Jew first, but he will also do for us. R4840:5
He will teach us – As well as the Jews. R4796:4, R4575:5
As a counsellor. (Isa. 9:6) R1747:4
After the time of trouble, they will be glad to forsake their own ways and come into harmony with God. R269:3, R5428:5
Walk In his paths – "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth." (Psa 25:10) R2334:6
"They shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them and shall heal them." (Isa. 19:22) A256
Present temptations to evil will be removed when Satan shall be bound. R542:4*
Not until they do this will the Mediator recognize them. R5428:5; Q60:7
Led forth from sin along the grand highway to perfection. R1024:4
The Gentiles, seeing how the Lord blesses the Jews for so doing, will want similar blessings. Q206:2
Those who fail to do this will have tribulation that they may learn righteousness. R4729:2
For out of Zion – The spiritual phase of the Kingdom, the glorified Christ, Head and Body. A297, C293; D628; CR156:6; CR157:2; R4555:3, R4575:4, R5000:2
The true Zionism of the past eighteen centuries has been of the heavenly kind. CR156:6
Go forth the law – As soon as the last member of the Church is glorified, for correction in righteousness of the world's affairs. CR157:1, 3; CR156:6; R4542:5
Now we persuade, urge, entreat men to come to the Lord; then it will be different. R4542:5
Word of the LORD – Divine messages, through the "princes." (Psa 45:16) CR157:2; D620, R3869:2, R5583:4
From Jerusalem – The seat of the earthly phase of the Kingdom in the hands of the "princess" A297, C293; D629; SM735:1; R4071:6, R5293:4, R5000:2; OV96:3
Jerusalem will become the capital city of the world. Q790:2
The Ancient Worthies will constitute the earthly Jerusalem, the capital of the new dispensation. CRI57:2
The re-established fleshly Israel. C293; R4575:4, R1341:2
Fleshly Israel, recovered from blindness, shall be used as a medium through which the streams of salvation, issuing from glorified, spiritual Israel, shall flow to all the families of the earth. C293
These two phases of the Kingdom will be in communication and co-operation through the Millennium. R4071:6
From Israel, under the New covenant, through Israel's Mediator, a way of approach to God will be opened up for all the Gentiles. OV96:3, OV85:1
The earthly phase of the Kingdom will be essentially Israelitish. R286:6
The nation that will not go up to Jerusalem will have no blessings. (Zech. 14:17-19) R4819:5
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| 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. |
He shall judge – Previously-in the great time of trouble. D628, D629
Rewarding and punishing justly. SM735:1
And shall rebuke – By his judgments. R1469:6
And they shall – As a result of the Lord's rebukes and subsequently his law and word. D629
The connecting verses show that the conditions of peace referred to will not be established until after the Kingdom of the Lord is set up on the earth. Q812:2
Beat their swords – After they have been brought to a condition of willingness. R269:2
Into plowshares – We Christians have not gotten them to do so. R5061:3
Learn war any more – Under Messiah's Kingdom wars will cease forever. R5760:3; OV318:5
"Prepare war" (Joel 3:9, 10) is the prophecy that applies now. R353:2*
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| 5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. |
O house of Jacob – Natural Israel. A300, SM736:1
Walk in the light – Truth. Those most prompt to respond will get the greater blessing. A20; SM736:1
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| 6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. |
Thou hast forsaken – Verses 6 to 10 give some reasons why God's favor has been, for a time, withdrawn from Israel. SM736:2
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| 7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: |
Full of horses – Doctrinal hobbies. C316
Of their chariots – Worldly organizations. C316
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| 8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: |
Is full of idols – The idolatry of money, covetousness, etc. B139; R1836:1
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| 9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. |
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| 10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. |
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| 11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. |
Shall be humbled – They will not be boasting then. OV420:3
Pride is a great obstacle, hindering approach to truth and righteousness. The Almighty is not sufficiently reverenced. SM737:1
Haughtiness of men – The wisdom of the learned will prove futile in the time of trouble. SM737:1
Shall be bowed down – Nevertheless his judgment will be for the world's deliverance, for he wounds to heal. R1869:3
The LORD alone – The result will be the glory of the Lord and the humbling of human pride. SM737:1
Exalted in that day – In the time of trouble. B139
The thousand-year day in which Messiah is to be King over all the earth. PD3/8
The Day now begun. OV420:3
When men give up the contest, God will exalt himself and fully set up his government. R1213:6*
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| 12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: |
Upon every one – Heavy upon every proud one. SM737:2
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| 13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, |
Cedars of Lebanon – The ecclesiastically great. SM737:2
The oaks of Bashan – The politically strong. SM737:2
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| 14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up. |
The high mountains – The kingdoms of this world. SM737:2
All the hills – The smaller princedoms. SM737:2
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| 15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, |
High tower – Human organization. SM737:2
Every fenced wall – Symbol of civil power. D40
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| 16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. |
Ships of Tarshish – Possibly a reference to the destruction of the Spanish navy in the Spanish-American war. R2506:5*
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| 17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. |
The LORD alone – God must be first under the new order of things. SM738:T
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| 18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish. |
And the Idols – The idolatry of money, covetousness, etc. B139; R1836:1
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| 19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. |
And they shall go – Realizing their inability to cope with the mighty, pent-up forces with which they will have to deal when the terrible crisis arrives. D148
Holes of the rocks – Represent attempted protection of human organizations, insurance companies, secret societies, etc. SM738:1
Caves of the earth – Fortresses of society Free Masonry, Odd Fellowship, Trade Unions, Guilds, Trusts and all societies, secular and ecclesiastical. B139
When he ariseth – Assumes authority, takes command. "At that time shall Michael stand up." (Dan. 12:1) B147[B147:2]
To shake terribly – So that it may be removed. D55; SM738:2
None of the shelters of society will be able to protect from the trouble which is coming. SM738:1
The earth – The present social order. D55
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| 20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; |
In that day – In the time of trouble. D149, R2506:6
Now so very close at hand-"even at the door." (Matt. 24:33) D148
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| 21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. |
Fear of the LORD – Fear of his judgments which, in a natural way, will produce the great time of trouble. B140
Shake terribly – "Until all the foundations of the earth (the foundations of society-the hitherto established principles of law and order) are moved." (Psa. 82:5) D55
And to destroy its corruptions. B140
Present civilization will be destroyed because the Lord has something far better for the world. OV420:3
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| 22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? |
Cease ye from man – It is time for the Lord's people to recognize the Lord as their only King and Director. R3217:3
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