GOD'S SACRED SECRET: |
Part 2 "The Man From Bozrah” (Isaiah 63: 1-9) |
Thus far, we've been discussing what's referred to by bible scholars as the "Servant" Prophecies. These "Servant" Prophecies are mentioned several times in the book of Isaiah. For example, Isaiah 42:1-9, also Isaiah 49:1-9, Isaiah 50:4-11, Isaiah 52:13 - Isaiah 53:12, Isaiah 61:1-3, and Isaiah 63:1-9. 2 Why is it that your clothing is red, and your garments are like those of one treading in the winepress? 3 “The wine trough I have trodden by myself, while there was no man with me from the peoples. And I kept treading them in my anger, and I kept trampling them down in my rage. And their spurting blood kept spattering upon my garments, and all my clothing I have polluted. 4 For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the very year of my repurchased ones has come. 5 And I kept looking, but there was no helper; and I began to show myself astonished, but there was no one offering support. So my arm furnished me salvation, and my rage was what supported me. 6 And I kept stamping down peoples in my anger, and I proceeded to make them drunk with my rage and to bring down to the earth their spurting blood.” 7 The loving-kindnesses of Jehovah I shall mention, the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah has rendered to us, even the abundant goodness to the house of Israel that he has rendered to them according to his mercies and according to the abundance of his loving-kindnesses. (Isaiah 63:1-7 NWT)
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And there are many other points like this, that we find are of special interest to bible scholars, as mentioned in the "Servant" Prophecies, that appears to have not been completely fulfilled as of yet. |
The "Servant" Prophecy of Isaiah 49:1-9 -- Is It About Jesus Christ? Case in point: |
1 Listen to me, O YOU islands, and pay attention, YOU national groups far away. Jehovah himself has called me even from the belly. From the inward parts of my mother he has made mention of my name. 2 And he proceeded to make my mouth like a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand he has hidden me. And he gradually made me a polished arrow. He concealed me in his own quiver. 3 And he went on to say to me: “You are my servant, O Israel, you the one in whom I shall show my beauty.” 4 But as for me, I said: “It is for nothing that I have toiled. For unreality and vanity I have used up my own power. Truly my judgment is with Jehovah, and my wages with my God.” |
In Verse 4 above, it is foretold that the "Servant" would say these words to Jehovah, when first called for his assigned ministry to represent God to Israel and "raise up the tribes of Jacob." |
It would be INSANITY on our parts, to think that Jesus Christ, had become, at any time, so discouraged, that he would say something like this to God. In fact, even when he was faced with imminent death at the hands of his enemies, his most grueling hour of test, can you imagine Jesus saying in prayer to Jehovah, |
No, Jesus was never that discouraged, as we read of the foretold coming "Servant" of Isaiah 49:1-9. A mere man, that was beaten down, and wore out by the brazen, outright wickedness of modern-day "Israel" of our times. |
Actually bible prophecy reveals, the "Servant", after uttering these words of total discouragement, still goes on, AFTER expressing great regret to Jehovah, then goes on to faithfully and dutifully carry out God's Will for him, namely to spiritually "RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB", and "BRING THEM BACK" to God. He braces himself to do MORE work for God, and works to spiritually "restore" them, this earthly Israel, from spiritual degradation and apostasy. And happily, in the end, the "Servant" would lead the entire nation to Almighty God's Everlasting Favor, just as God wanted all the time. (See Isaiah 49:5, 6.) So, Jehovah's Will prevailed in the end, DESPITE the discouragement of the "Servant" when the assignment was first offered to him.
-- John 7:38
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In the above passage, Jesus is making an interesting point. Did you notice that Jesus compares the person or one that truly believes or has "faith" in him, as being one in whom "from his INMOST PART streams of living water will flow," did you notice that? So then, these "living waters" actually "flow" from this one....from inside this person. Next, John under inspiration, makes the point that Jesus himself was referring to yes, to the future activity of the "Spirit," when it comes -- either in the first century, or in our day and time, either way. In this way, we begin to think two-dimensionally, and see this as a “paradigm” or a "beside example," type and anti-type wherein we compare activity of the holy spirit in the first century and its "restorative works, with activity of the Modern Day "Servant" and his efforts of "restoration" as the foretold "Elijah." |
Steams of Living Waters |
So, the vital connection is made between one, who is coming, one who has genuine "faith" in Jesus, as a footstep follower of Jesus. He "believes in" Jesus when a renegade, apostate "world" does not, as John 16:8, 9 shows. And from this one, from the "spirit of truth," yes from his "inmost parts," yes "streams of living water would flow" -- from this particular "believer" in Christ or person who has genuine "faith" in Jesus. -- Please compare Isaiah 53:1 with John 7:38, 39.
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Again, the thought is planted by Jesus himself, that this coming one, is to be properly understood to be, first in the first century God's Holy Spirit, given as a "helper" or leader for the congregation. And yet later, in our day, it is to be understood as the reality of God's promise, that is through one individual, a coming "prophet" like Moses, yes the coming one referred to as "Elijah" that becomes the one that "restores all things." |
He become the one that "receives from" Jesus something very, very special. Something so special that he even "declares it" to God's people Israel. This one "receives" from Jesus, the Davidic Right, the right to govern Israel, who in turn will one day govern the entire earth. Yes, again, a person that would be given such an honor and privilege, by Jesus, and would as Jesus said, would "glorify" Jesus too. Yes, because he would recognize and teach all others that it was through the righteous shed blood of Jesus, that all of this was even made possible. So yes, he would "glorify" Jesus too. Yes, this "he," the "spirit of truth" then becomes the one that "declares" this given right, and all of this information, yes, to earthly Israel. Praise Jah! -- John 16:14, 15 |
Thus, after Pentecost, we can say: Jesus was "present" or "with" the first century congregation, even though he was in heaven, and the "spirit" was operated and leading the congregation of the first century. Isn't that true? |
So, just as it is true that Jesus could be "present" with his followers in the first century, with the "spirit" acting as a leader down here on earth, during that time -- then today, Jesus could do the same, for us. Therefore, Jesus' absence in bodily form from the earth, would not necessarily preclude or interrupt the ministry of the "Spirit of Truth" at all, at any time among his followers today, just as it didn't in the first century -- and yes, all the time, the "Spirit" leads the repentant congregation of modern day 'Israel" back from spiritual "apostasy." -- Matthew 19:28
– Matthew 17:11; Matthew 19:28
Then, there is the statement that Jesus himself said about the coming "Elijah" and his coming "FIRST", first as the disciples asked in Matthew 17:10. Jesus responds in Verse 11, |
Why does Jesus Christ himself, acknowledge above that there will appear upon earth, another "Elijah", a future great prophet of Jehovah -- that will among other things, actually "restore ALL things?" That's restore all things. "Restore" in a spiritual sense. A spiritual "restoration" as Matthew 19:28 shows, all the while Jesus resides in heaven. (Please see footnote in NWT large print on "recreation" [Greek: palingenesis ] for Matthew 19:28.) |
In fact Matthew 19:28 says, |
Do you think Jesus is saying that he and his apostles would from a heavenly vantage point, actually have to "judge" an earthly "12 tribes of Israel" because of their committing SPIRITUAL APOSTASY before God? Could Jesus have been saying such a thing, do you think? |
Now think: Would Jesus have said such a thing, if he himself, PERSONALLY, that's personally in his glorified state, was going to complete the job of spiritual "restoration" for Israel, and personally come down from heaven to do this? Why would Jesus say this, if he knew he was going to personally COME OUT OF HEAVEN, leave his glorious existence and so that he could carry out the duties of the foretold "Spirit of Truth", and personally spiritually "restore" his people in the last days, and personally "guide" them "into ALL TRUTH, "declare the things coming" for them, as the "Spirit of Truth" is foretold to do? Why would Jesus Personally do the things HE HIMSELF SAID the great "Elijah" was assigned to do BEFORE the "coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah" that Jesus Christ brings? -- See John 16:13; Malachi 4:5. wherein statements are made that maybe, Jesus Christ himself will come back, to in, IN PERSON, to correct, "restore" the congregation of Israel, Jehovah's Witnesses of our time.
This verse makes an excellent point, as well as John 15:26 which shows Jehovah God & Jesus Christ, will yes, actually "send" the "Spirit of Truth" to earth, to act as a "helper". Now, let's assume then, this "helper", the holy spirit, is personified within the person of the glorified Jesus Christ, who will now act to personally "restore" the congregation of apostate Jehovah's Witnesses. Well, if we are satisfied that this conclusion is correct, then let's figure out the following: |
Yes, we must ask: Do we personally believe that Jesus is saying he, Jesus, would find it necessary one day, to "SEND" HIMSELF TO EARTH, as a "helper", as the "Spirit of Truth", also as the coming "Elijah", the one who "restores ALL THINGS," -- all the while AT THE SAME TIME, he is also ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE IN HEAVEN supposedly "judging" the apostate "12 tribes of Israel" who are on earth and in need of a spiritual "re-creation"? Is that what Jesus is saying? -- Matthew 19:28; Malachi 4:5; John 15:26; John 16:13. |
[For in-depth consideration of the coming "Palin-Genesis" of all Jehovah's Witnesses from apostasy, please see the article entitled Jehovah's Witnesses Re-Generated As A Nation From Apostasy!" at this link: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6 ] End of Part 2. |
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