Isaiah 11

by TimothyT 1 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  TimothyT

  I have been reading Isaiah and I must say I find it interesting. Chapter 11 really sparked my interesting. As I read it, I got that the impression that this was a prophecy for 2 time periods: 1, for the people of Israel , 2, for the time of the messiah. Now that I’m interested, I decided to compare my thoughts of what Isaiah is saying to what the old Isaiah’s Prophecy Volume 1 says. If you have any thoughts then please let me know.

  Verse 10 And it must occur in that day that there will be the root of Jes′se that will be standing up as a signal for the peoples. To him even the nations will turn inquiringly, and his resting-place must become glorious.

  “Moreover, the prophecy reaches even further—down to our day when people of the nations show their love for Jehovah by supporting the anointed brothers of the Messiah.—Isaiah 61:5-9; Matthew 25:31-40.

  18 In the modern-day fulfillment, “that day” referred to by Isaiah began when the Messiah was enthroned as King of God’s heavenly Kingdom in 1914. (Luke 21:10; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 12:10) Since then, Jesus Christ has been a clear signal, a rallying point, for spiritual Israel and for people of all nations who long for righteous government. Under the Messiah’s direction, the good news of the Kingdom has been carried to all the nations, as Jesus foretold. (Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10) This good news has a powerful effect. “A great crowd, which no man [is] able to number, out of all nations” is submitting to the Messiah by joining the anointed remnant in pure worship. (Revelation 7:9) As many new ones continue to come into association with the remnant in Jehovah’s spiritual “house of prayer,” they add to the glory of the Messiah’s “resting-place,” God’s great spiritual temple.—Isaiah 56:7; Haggai 2:7.” pp.166

  I think they describe this as to mean themselves and the organisation. Im not so sure. I think its simple. Jesus makes his way available to all the people and all the nations. Those who listen to him and come to know his greatness will find rest in him and his teachings. I don’t believe that this is a specific organisation.

  Verse 11 And it must occur in that day that Jehovah will again offer his hand, a second time, to acquire the remnant of his people who will remain over from As·syr′i·a and from Egypt and from Path′ros and from Cush and from E′lam and from Shi′nar and from Ha′math and from the islands of the sea. Verse 12 And he will certainly raise up a signal for the nations and gather the dispersed ones of Israel ; and the scattered ones of Judah he will collect together from the four extremities of the earth.

  “How much more glorious, though, is the major fulfillment! In 1914, Jehovah raised the enthroned Jesus Christ as “a signal for the nations.” Starting in 1919 the remaining ones of “the Israel of God” began to flock to this signal, eager to share in pure worship under God’s Kingdom. This unique spiritual nation comes “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”—Revelation 5:9.” pp.167

  I do not see any reason why this happened, nor do they back it up with scripture. The scripture clearly has meaning for those in Israel when he extended his hand to them to save them from captivity. However if this had further symbolic meaning then It seems logical that Jehovah is giving them yet another chance but through the signal he raised up with Jesus. Through Jesus the Jews who are spread all over the world will be able to come to him and be his people too. It seems simple to me. Why do the Jews complicate it all with those whole remnant business?
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  Vidqun

  Here’s a bit of personal study I did a while back on Dan. 11:40-45. Who are Ammon, Edom and Moab (Dan. 11:41), because they will escape the clutches of the King of the North. Is. 11, 45 & 49, mentioning the escapees of the nations, did come up in the mix, so here it is, for what it’s worth:

  Neighbors of the anointed remnant, those in the territories neighboring “the beautiful land”, are extended an invitation: “Collect yourselves together and come. Bring yourselves up close together, YOU escapees from [or, more accurately “of”, Ber, JB, NEB] the nations. Those carrying the wood of their carved image have not come to any knowledge, neither have those praying to a god that cannot save. Make YOUR report and YOUR presentation. Yes, let them consult together in unity. Who has caused this to be heard from a long time ago? [Who] has reported it from that very time? Is it not I, Jehovah, besides whom there is no other God; a righteous God and a Savior, there being none excepting me? Turn to me and be saved, all YOU [at the] ends of the earth [“you peoples from all corners of the earth”, NEB], for I am God and there is no other.” (Is. 45:20-22; Ezek. 20:32; cf. 52:10b: “all the nations” = “all the ends of the earth”)

  So who are these “escapees of the nations”? First clue as to their identification, we discover in Jeremiah chapter 46 to 49. Here we read of Jehovah’s adverse judgments against a variety of nations, e.g., Egypt, the Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, as well as Elam.

  Will these be wiped from the face of the earth? No, individuals from these nations will be saved. When will this take place? In Jer. 49:39 we read: “‘And it will certainly occur in the final part of the days that I shall gather the captive ones of Elam,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.” Later, in Acts 2:9-11, Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, heard the preaching of the good news in their own language. No doubt some of them would become Christians.

  In “the final part of the days”, individuals from these nations will be shown mercy. Why? The possibility exists that these nations will show hospitality to the dispersed Israelites, because Isaiah (11:11) predicts that Jehovah will “acquire the remnant of his people who will remain over from Assyria and from Egypt and from Pathros and from Cush and from Elam and from Shinar and from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.” Individuals from these nations will not only treat God’s people with respect, but will respond favorably to their preaching (cf. basis of judgment, Matt. 25:31-46).

  As seen, above period includes “the time of [the] end” found only in the book of Daniel (cf. Dan. 11:40). In the very next verse we read “Edom, Moab and the beginnings of the sons of Ammon” will succeed in evading the clutches of the King of the North. Who are these? What common thread connects the three nations?

  As will be demonstrated, all are somehow related to Israel. The nations of Ammon, Edom and Moab were allocated a specific territory by Jehovah God. The Israelites were not allowed to molest them. They had to bypass their territories on the way to the Promised Land (cf. Deut. 3:4, 5, 9, 18, 19). During the Davidic monarchy these were subjugated, alongside the Philistines and the Syrians (cf. 1 Chron. 18:1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 13; 19: 18, 19).

  Keil & Delitzsch, in their commentary, add that these nations were off the beaten track, whereas Israel was caught in the line of fire, between the King of the North and South: “ The three peoples, Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, are represented as altogether spared, because, as Jerome has remarked, they lay in the interior, out of the way of the line of march of Antiochus to Egypt (v. Leng., Hitzig, and others).”

  Before the issuing of Daniel’s prophecy these were immediate neighbors (and enemies) of the Israelites, the inhabitants of “the beautiful land”. In Ps. 81:15 we read: “As for those intensely hating Jehovah, they will come cringing to him,” and “their time will prove to be to time indefinite.” These could not become part of Israel unless they take up true worship. They had to accept Jehovah’s terms, bring their lives in harmony with his principles, and dedicate their lives to him.

  If the information is of benefit, let me know and I will post the rest.