Isaiah 49-50

Isaiah 49-50

Chapter 49: Messiah = Light unto the Gentiles

                The servant speaks in his own voice – he has been called from the womb. His mouth has been made like a sharp sword. He will be a light to the gentiles. He will release prisoners, and those in darkness. The Lord cannot forget Israel, as a nurse cannot forget her nursing child. The Lord will protect Israel from her enemies, who will be humbled and defeated.

Chapter 50: Isaiah shall have a tongue of power

Israel has brought its misfortunes on itself. The servant is obedient, and has been given a wise tongue. “… the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word…” (Isaiah 50:4)

”I gave my back to those smitters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair…” (Isaiah 50:6) He has faith that the Lord will justify him, however, and that his adversaries will grow old like a garment, and be eaten up by moths. People will be kindled by fire from his hand.

Isaiah 47-48

Isaiah 47-48

Chapter 47: Babylon and Chaldea shall be destroyed

                Babylon is depicted as a degraded woman, naked and uncovered. The pride and arrogance of Babylon is rebuked. The stargazers and sorcerers of Babylon will be unable to help.

Chapter 48: The Lord reveals His purposes

The Lord rebukes Israel for their routine religious observance. The Lord made sure that he was revealed rather than concealed, but Israel did not see or hear. The Lord defers his anger for His name’s sake , He is the first and the last. The Lord wishes that his people had obeyed Him in the past. Exodus from Babylon joined with that from Egypt – the rock in the wilderness flowed with water.

Isaiah 45-46

Isaiah 45-46

Scripture Thought (What I Learned): 

                These two chapters go me thinking… we know that there is no other god, besides God the Father… but verse 7 states that God creates evil and peace, lightness and darkness. But why? Why would God create evil?

                This is where most people who start to hate the idea of religion or God start to point fingers and say that if God loves us, why is there pain and suffering? To answer this question we have to go back to Deuteronomy 8:2-3; 5-6 during the 40 years Israel wandered in the wilderness… which states:

                “…thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna… man doth not live by bread only, but by ever good word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”

                “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.” (Deuteronomy 8:2-3; 5)

                In the Book of Mormon we read further that “…it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so… righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad…” (2 Nephi 2:11)

                Even though it sounds weird, God does love us and that is why bad things happen. We look at things as time is now… God looks at an eternal persepective which cannot be compared to our time here on earth and is ultimately for our own good.

Chapter 45: Come unto Christ

                The Lord calls upon Cyrus to subdue nations. Cyrus and Israel will know the Lord, who formed the light and created darkness.

“I for the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

The skies are commanded to rain down righteousness, and the earth to bring forth salvation. Resisting the creator is foolish. God’s role as the creator of heaven and earth is emphasised alongside the deliverance of Israel via Cyrus. When the Lord is revealed as the true God, idolaters will submit and God’s people will be saved. The Lord has not concealed Himself, but let Himself be known. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth…” (Isaiah 45:22)

Chapter 46: Idols are not to be compared to God

False gods are carried away on carriages. The Lord will carry His people into old age. Golden idols are mute and incapable of offering help. The Lord knew the end from the beginning. A bird of prey shall be called from the East. Salvation will be placed in Zion, and glory in Israel.

Isaiah 43-44

Isaiah 43-44

Chapter 43: Jesus is our only Redeemer

                The Lord has redeemed his people from slavery – he will protect them from waters and from fire. The Lord has chosen his servant, and commissioned Israel as his witnesses. The Lord will judge Babylon, and supply roads and water for his people in the wilderness. Jacob (Israel) has not offered sacrifices, and has been full of iniquity – nonetheless, the Lord will forgive previous sins.

Chapter 44: Why worship objects?

The Lord’s spirit will be poured onto the descendants of Jacob, and they will spring up like grass. “…  beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6) Idols and idol makers achieve nothing. Israel’s transgressions have been blotted out, as with a thick cloud. Jacob has been redeemed. Cyrus is the Lord’s shepherd, who will help to rebuild Judah and Jerusalem.

Isaiah 41-42

Isaiah 41-42

Chapter 41: Be Not Affraid

                The people from the coastlands are invited to approach for judgment. Along with everybody else. Who rose up one from the East, the Lord did. The people of the coastlands approach with fear.

                “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee…” (Isaiah 41:10)

Israel has been chosen, and gathered from the ends of the earth. Fear not – you will be strengthened, and your enemies ashamed. You will thresh and winnow the mountains. God will supply water and other resources. One will come from the north who shall conquer. The Lord judges idols and deems them worthless.

Chapter 42: Isaiah Speaks to the Lord

The Lord starts off by saying that His servants do not “…cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.” (Isaiah 42:2) Like the hypocrite that Jesus spoke of in Matthew that prayed for praise of the people. The spirit does not move with loud noises it moves by the still small voice… (1 Kings 19:11-12)

The Lord’s servant will bring justice to the gentiles, and establish justice on earth. A light to the gentiles. Psalm-like invitation to sing to the Lord a new song. The Lord will unleash his devastating power against idolaters. The deaf and the blind come to the servant. The Lord’s people have been robbed, plundered and punished because they have not walked in the ways of the Lord.

Isaiah 39-40

Isaiah 39-40

Chapter 39: Hezekiah reveals his truth

                Hezekiah entertains the envoys from the king of Babylon, showing them all his treasures. Isaiah reproves him, saying that all treasures will be taken to Babylon at a future date. Hezekiah is relieved that he himself will not see this happen.

Chapter 40: Run and Not be Weary

Comfort ye, my people. A voice in the wilderness cries, “…Prepare ye the  way of the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:3) Every valley shall be exalted, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Zion and Jerusalem, who bring good tidings, are invited to tell the cities of Judah to behold their God. The Lord will feed his flock like a shepherd. God’s greatness surpasses all nations, and all idols. He brings the princes and the judges of the earth to nothing. But the weak shall be strengthened…

“…they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Isaiah 37-38

Isaiah 37-38

  

Chapter 37: Hezekiah and Isaiah

                Hezekiah tears his clothes and covers himself with sackcloth. Isaiah speaks words of assurance to Hezekiah, and tells him that Rabshakeh’s blasphemy will be repaid. The Ethiopians move against Assyria. Hezekiah prays, and Isaiah further prophesies against Assyria and gives assurances that the Lord will protect Jerusalem. The angel of the Lord strikes 185,000 Assyrian soldiers dead. Sennacherib is killed by his sons back in Assyria.

Chapter 38: Hezekiah’s Life is added to

                The sick Hezekiah is given an assurance by Isaiah that he will not die, but live a further fifteen years. The shadow on a sundial goes backwards (10 degrees), as a sign to confirm the promise. Hezekiah thanks the Lord for his deliverance.

Isaiah 35-36

Isaiah 35-36

Chapter 35: Babylon is Fallen!

                Lands will be restored, and the desert blossom. The weak will be strengthened, the sick and diseased healed. Abundance shall replace lack. There shall be a Way of Holiness – a road leading to Zion.

Chapter 36: A Nail in a Sure Place

                See 2 Kings 18:13-27. Officials from King Hezekiah’s government meet Rabshakeh, general of the armies of Assyria. Rabshakeh speaks against Judah’s trust in an alliance with Egypt, and says the Lord will not save them. Rabshakeh speaks directly to the people of Jerusalem in Hebrew, seeking to demoralize them.

Isaiah 33-34

Isaiah 33-34

Chapter 33: The Stakes of the Church

                Apostasy and wickedness precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ… The plundering Assyria will itself be plundered. Zion will be filled with wisdom and righteousness. The earth will mourn and lay waste. The breath of the Lord will devour like fire. Sinners shall be afraid, but the righteous will see the king in his beauty.

“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high…” (Isaiah 33:15-16)

Zion, the city of appointed feasts, will be blessed and delivered.

In verse 20 it says “…not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed…” (Isaiah 33:320) This is the reason why the LDS church has Stakes; they are what hold down the church all over the world. (See Also: Isaiah 54:2)

Chapter 34: The Second Coming

                The indignation of the Lord is against all nations. The sword of the Lord will make a great slaughter in Edom. The land will be inhabited only by animals of the wilderness.

Isaiah 31-32

Isaiah 31-32

Chapter 31: The Lord will Defend his People

                Woe to those who look to Egypt rather than the Lord. The Lord is mightier than the Egyptians. The Lord will defend Jerusalem. The children of Israel are invited to repent.

Chapter 32: The Messiah – The Restoration

                Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. People will see, hear and understand. “The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge…” (Isaiah 32:4) The foolish man will be exposed as foolish. Women at ease are called upon to repent. The Spirit will be poured out upon a humbled people, who will enjoy peace and security.

Isaiah 29-30

Isaiah 29-30

Chapter 29: The Book of Mormon

                Woe to Ariel (Jerusalem) – its pride shall be humbled. However, the humbled Jerusalem will be protected from its enemies. Jerusalem suffers from spiritual drunkenness and illiteracy. However, the spiritually blind will see, and justice for the wicked be administered.

                The coming forth of the Book of Mormon (to cure the spiritually blind) is prophesied:

                “And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.” (Isaiah 29:4)

                The Book of Mormon came out from the ground and came forth as a familiar spirit and as a companion to the Bible, the New World story of the Ancient Americas. What is more interesting is that Isaiah continues to prophesy about the Book of Mormon…

“…the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.” (Isaiah 29: 11-12)

Joseph Smith received this book (the Book of Mormon), being unlearned. What’s more, he sent it with Martin Harris to the learned Professor Anthon, who reportedly said precisely “I cannot read it, for it is sealed.”

                Ezekiel prophesied of a Stick of Judah (Ezekiel 37:15-17), (a stick is a book or a scroll) these are the Jews and this stick is the Bible. He also prophesied of a Stick of Joseph, these are descendants of Joseph, down through Lehi and his descendants who came to the New World. He and his descendants wrote the Book of Mormon.

                Isaiah continues by saying that God will “…proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (Isaiah 29:14) God will bring forth more of His word, what is more marvelous than that? People long for the Lord to speak and reveal that He still lives, the Book of Mormon proves that Jesus Christ Lives! It is Another Testament of Him! In the last days the word will become confused and many will wonder and stray away from God, the Book of Mormon will help people come back to the path… “They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.” (Isaiah 29:24)

Chapter 30: Rejection of Prophets

                Woe to the rebellious children who look to Egypt to protect them from Assyria.

“…this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:Which say to the seers, See not: and to the the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things…” (Isaiah 20:9-10) The people do not want seers to see, and want prophets to prophesy deceits rather than right things. They want “smooth things” or things that don’t require them to be righteous and follow commandments.

Judah will be broken like a potter’s vessel. Blessed are those who wait for the Lord. He shall respond to his people, who cry to him from Jerusalem. The Lord’s people will throw away their graven images of gold and silver. Nature will bring forth abundance. There is a place in Tophet (the rubbish dump outside Jerusalem) for the Assyrian king. The breath of the Lord shall kindle it.

Remember that “…though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction… This is the way, walk ye in it…” (Isaiah 30:20-21) OR in other words… the Lord gives us affliction… but we need to move forward and walk in His path, and we will be blessed and those afflictions will be for our own growth and learning.

Isaiah 27-28

Isaiah 27-28

Chapter 27: Israel Shall Fill the Earth

                Leviathan will be defeated. Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. In the Kingdom of the Lord, the city of man lies desolate. The Lord will be worshipped at the holy mount in Jerusalem.

Chapter 28: Revelation

                The drunkards of Ephraim will be trampled underfoot. The beauty of the Lord will replace the faded beauty of Ephraim. Judah also suffers from the corruption of drunkenness.

“…they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink…” (Isaiah 28:7) This goes to show that the modern day revelations in the LDS church of the "Word of Wisdom” which says that we must not consume alcohol among other things is correct. Alcohol only clouds your judgement and the Bible does condemn you from drinking.

The reply of the drunkards is imagined – this message is fit only for those just weaned from milk. Scornful men have made a covenant with death. God will lay in Zion a stone for a foundation. But before the Lord gives that foundation and completes his task, He will give us Revelation and that Revelation will come; “…precept upon precept; line up line… here a little and there a little…” (Isaiah 28:10) This proves that the Bible is not the only word of God… because God always has and always will reveal new things… therefore continuing revelation through authorized servants is a must! The bed is too short to stretch out on, and the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it. The timing of a farmer is compared to the timing of the Lord.

Isaiah 25-26

Isaiah 25-26

Chapter 25: Tyre shall be overthrown

God is praised for his righteous judgment, and for assisting the needy. A feast will be prepared on Zion. Death will be swallowed up forever, and all tears wiped away.

“…Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord…” (Isaiah 25:9)

 People will proclaim a God they have waited for, and who has saved them. 

The pride of Moab will be brought down, as the Lord spreads out his hands like a swimmer reaches out to swim.

Chapter 26: Men Shall Change the Scriptures

                The strength of the city will be celebrated. The Lord is the source of the city’s strength. The Lord will bring down those who dwell on high. The upright will desire the Lord, and the wicked shall remain unaware as the fire of enemies devours them. All masters other than the Lord are dead. We have been in pain, as if in labour. The dead shall rise. The day of the Lord’s judgment will come.

                Through all of this we can learn something about patience the Lord speaks to His people: “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” (Isaiah 26:20)

                We need to remember that the Lord works on His own time, but if we are patient the Lord WILL save us! Sometimes it might feel like a long time, but we have to remember that our life on this earth is short compared to eternity… our pain and suffer is a “little moment” in the Lord’s eyes.

Isaiah 23-24

Isaiah 23-24

Chapter 23: Tyre Shall be Overthrown

The burden against Tyre. The sailors will agonize when they hear about the destruction of their home port. The pride of Tyre will be dishonoured. Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years. God will allow Tyre, symbolized by a prostitute, to continue her gross materialism with all the kingdoms of the world, but her gain and her pay will be set apart for the Lord.

Chapter 24: Men Shall Change the Scriptures

                The land will be emptied and laid waste. The earth will mourn and fade away, because people “…have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 23:5). The simple doctrines and ordinances taught by the Savior were debated and changed to conform to worldly ideas. This would lead to the need for a Restoration of the Gospel.

                The Book of Mormon expands on what happened:

“And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have takenaway from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away…this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men… after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book… And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles… Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen….

 behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb…. And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true…. These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.(1 Nephi 13:26-40)

                In the last days the Book of Mormon will come forth as Another Testament (or evidence) of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 21-22

Isaiah 21-22

Chapter 21: Babylon is Fallen!

                The burden against the Wilderness of the Sea (ie Babylon). A army from Elam (Persia) marches against it. A report will come to the watchman: Babylon is fallen, is fallen! The (brief) burden against Dumah (Edom): the watchman will report that the morning comes, and also the night. The burden against Arabia: within a year, all the glory of Kedar will fall.

Chapter 22: A Nail in a Sure Place

                The burden against the Valley of Vision (Jerusalem). An army is coming, against which there is no deliverance. Instead of turning their hearts in humble repentance to the Lord, the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ Shebna, Hezekiah’s chief steward, is denounced. Shebna will be replaced by Eliakim. He will be given the key of the house of David.

Isaiah 19-20

Isaiah 19-20

Chapter 19: The Lord Will Smite Egypt

                The burden against Egypt. The Lord strikes Egypt by giving them over to civil war and submission to a cruel master. The Nile will be dried, and the Egyptian economy thereby ruined. Foolish counsel has caused Egypt to stagger like a drunk man in his vomit. Judah will be a terror to Egypt. The Egyptians will turn to the Lord, and a savior shall deliver them. There will be a peace between the three former enemies of Egypt, Assyria and Israel.

Chapter 20: Assyria Shall Overrun Egypt

                In the year of the fall of the Philistine king Ashdod at the hands of the Assyrians (711 BC). The Lord commands Isaiah to go naked – as he is naked, so shall the Egyptians and Ethopians be led away naked as captives by Assyria. On this day, Judah will be ashamed that it once trusted to these nations.

Isaiah 17-18

Isaiah 17-18

Chapter 17: Israel is Scattered

                The burden against Damascus. Damascus will become a ruinous heap, and Israel (the northern kingdom, referred to as Ephraim, its dominant tribe) will wane.

This is a sort of metaphor for the end of the world, and in those last days; “… a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect… And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands…” (Isaiah 17:7-8) People will finally respect God and stop worshiping worldly things. I do like how it says those who look upon God will have respect for him. I personally don’t believe you can look at God with sin.

 God’s judgment will bring man’s work to nothing. “…thou shalt make thy plant to grow, and… make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap… of grief and of desperate sorrow.” (Isaiah 17:11) Essentially in the last days harvests will deceive and many will not grow or produce fruit. Many nations will rush against Syria and Israel like the rush of many waters. These nations will also be rebuked, however.

Chapter 18: The Scattered People

                Ethiopian help is not required to deal with Assyria. The Lord will cut off Assyria’s sprigs with pruning hooks. Ethiopians will come to Zion to worship God. Through this God will raise a Gospel Ensign and send messengers to the scattered people to bring them to worship in Zion.

Isaiah 15-16

Isaiah 15-16

Chapter 15: Moab shall be Laid Waste

                The burden against Moab. The cities and soldiers of Moab fall under a night attack. Refugees will flee from Moab. Refugees and the remnant of Moab will be attacked by lions.

Chapter 16: Messiah Shall Sit on David’s Throne

                Moab shall send the lamb as tribute to Jerusalem. Judah is to be a place of refuge and protection for the Moabites. Moab is then counselled to be a refuge for Israel. Moab shall wail at the judgment of God against it. Judgment will come in three years.

Isaiah 13-14

Isaiah 13-14

Chapter 13: The End of the World

The burden against Babylon. (‘Burden’ = an important message causing sorrow.) An army comes against Bablyon. A day of the Lord is promised – great slaughter shall occur, and humans will be more rare than gold. The Medes will be stirred up against Babylon. Babylon will be laid waste, and populated only by wild beasts.

“For the stars of heaven and the constellation thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” (Isaiah 13:10)

“There for I [God] will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place… shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 13:13&19)

Chapter 14: Lucifer is Cast Out!

Israel will be settled in its own land, and rule over strangers. The whole earth will rejoice at the fall of the king of Babylon. The pomp of Babylon shall come to nothing, and be received in hell.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” (Isaiah 14:12-17)

The fall is a punishment for aspiring to be like the Most High. The nations will be amazed at the complete reversal of fortune. Unlike other kings who sleep in glory, the king of Babylon will be cast out of his grave. Assyria and Philistia will also be crushed.

Isaiah 11-12

Isaiah 11-12

Chapter 11: The Lord Shall Raise an Ensign

                A root shall come forth from the rod of Jesse, possessing the seven spirits of God:
He will judge the poor with equity, and slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.

“The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion… together…” (Isaiah 11:6) The world will come together and fighting and war will be a thing of the past.The gentiles shall seek him. The Lord will gather together scattered Israel. Peace will reign, and neighboring nations be subdued.

In Doctrine and Covenant Section 113 we learn more about Isaiah chapter 11 and come to understand more of the meaning behind Isaiah’s words.

Answers to certain questions on the writings of Isaiah, given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at or near Far West, Missouri, March 1838.

·         “Who is the Stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah?

                                Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ.” (D&C 113:1-2)

·         “What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the Stem of Jesse?

Behold, thus saith the Lord: It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power.” (D&C 113:3-4)

·         “What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?

Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.” (D&C 113:5-6)

·         “ What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52d chapter, 1st verse, which saith: Put on thy strength, O Zion—and what people had Isaiah reference to?

He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost.” (D&C 113:7-8)

·         “What are we to understand by Zion loosing herself from the bands of her neck; 2d verse?

We are to understand that the scattered remnants are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen; which if they do, the promise of the Lord is that he will speak to them, or give them revelation. See the 6th, 7th, and 8th verses. The bands of her neck are the curses of God upon her, or the remnants of Israel in their scattered condition among the Gentiles.” (D&C 113:9-10)

Chapter 12: In the Last Days God will be among us

Praise will be offered to the Lord when his anger has passed away. The Lord is my strength and salvation! You will draw water from the well of salvation. Praise sung – great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!

Isaiah 9-10

Isaiah 9-10

Chapter 9: A Child is Born

                Judah will not suffer as greatly as Israel. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name chall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Because of their unholy pride, Israel will be defeated by her enemies: its head (elder and honourable) and tail (false prophet) will be cut off. The people of Israel will also attack each other. Exile and slaughter will be a punishment for social injustice.

                But it is important to note, that “…the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they are led of them that are destroyed.” (Isaiah 9:16) Therefore those who lead and misguide will be dealt a very harsh punishment!

Chapter 10: Few People Shall be Left

Woe to Assyria, the unintentional instrument in the hand of the Lord – it will be punished for its arrogant superiority.

“Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth (chops) therewithin…” (Isaiah 10:15) Which of course means, Can man Prosper against God? The answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! Do not be afraid of the Assyrians – the Lord will preserve a remnant of the house of Jacob. Isaiah prophesies attacks on a number of specific Juhan cities. The proud of Judah will be humbled.

Isaiah 7-8

Isaiah 7-8

Chapter 7: Ephraim and Sariah Wage War

                In the days when Israel and Syria joined in league against Judah in the days of Ahaz. Via Isaiah, and in the presence of his son Shear-Jashub (meaning, ‘a remnant shall return’) the Lord tells Ahaz not to fear, for the attack will not succeed, and Israel will no longer be a nation in 65 years’ time.

 The Lord will give a sign: a virgin will conceive, called Immanuel, God with us. Before the child can distinguish good from evil (ie within a couple of years), he will be eating curds and honey (ie the land will be back to producing plenteous food), and both Israel and Syria will be defeated. However, the Assyrians (whom Judah called upon for help) will inflict heavy calamities upon Judah. Isaiah counsels against a Judah-Assyria alliance to counter the threat from the Israel-Syria one.

Chapter 8: Turn to God for Guidance

Isaiah has a son, whom the Lord tells him to name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, which means ‘speed to the spoil, hurry to the plunder’. Before the children can call his mother and father, the riches of Damascus and Israel will be taken away by Assyria. However, the Assyrian army, compared to water, will overflow its banks and flood Judah with violence and destruction. Judah can prepare for the invasion by fearing God rather than Assyria. Seek the Lord’s light and word, not the darkness of the occult. (Isaiah 8:19-20)

Isaiah 5-6

Isaiah 5-6

Chapter 5: The Apostate of Israel

                Israel is like a vineyard, which will be abandoned because it produced only wild grapes. Woes are promised for a variety of sins, including: drinking (Isaiah 5:11), feasting, pride, and calling evil good (Isaiah 5:20). Kindled in wrath against his people, the Lord will allow a foreign nation to devastate the land. Its roaring shall be like a lion.

Chapter 6: Isaiah Sees the Lord

A vision in the year that king Uzziah died: Isaiah sees the Lord on his throne, and above it the seraphims. (Isaiah 6:1) Each one had six wings – with two they cover their faces, with two they cover their feet, and with two they fly. Isaiah fears he is undone because he is a man of unclean lips. One of the seraphims lays a lump of burning coal in his mouth, and tells him his sins are burnt away. Isaiah receives his prophetic commission – strangely, it is to ensure that the people do not understand, and are not haled. The Lord will remove men far away, but a tenth shall return.

Isaiah 3-4

Isaiah 3-4

Chapter 3: Judah and Jerusalem are Punished

                The Lord will take away all people of status from Jerusalem and Judah, and give babes to rule over them. The Lord will punish pride, including that of the daughters of Zion, who are wanton and mincing, and wear all manner of finery. The Lord will smite them with scabs and other afflictions. The men and the mighty shall fall in war.

Chapter 4: Zion Shall be Cleansed

The calamities of war will be so great that seven women shall be left to one man. These people were purged of filth, the Lord will bless the remnant, and the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night will be created in every dwelling place, and in all the assemblies.

“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” (Isaiah 4:1) This is very similar to the “Polygamy” that occurred in the LDS Church in the early days. Because of the oppression and persecution by the people and the government, many LDS members who were men were killed or imprisoned. Because of this, many women (in a time when women were not given rights without men) were forced to “marry” men in the church for legal purposes to continue to have respect and power as women. Majority of the marriages of plural wives were still monogamous in nature.

Isaiah 1-2

Isaiah 1-2

Chapter 1: Zion and the Restoration

                This is the vision of Isaiah and what saw through what I see as the Lord’s eyes; “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.” (Isaiah 1:4) God is no doubt, upset and very angry with what He sees. The Lord compares Israel to Sodom and Gomorrah for its apostasy and evil.

The Lord speaks about the prayer of the hypocrite; “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1:15) But there is a remedy to this sin and evil… “Wash you, make you clean… Learn to do well… reason together… though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as now; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

If we repent, the Lord will forgive us! But we must be willing to make changes and make ourselves clean from those sins. If are willing, we will “…eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured…” (Isaiah 1:19-20)

Chapter 2: Temples in the Last Days

                Isaiah sees a vision of the latter days…

                “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the tops of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 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. 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.” (Isaiah 2:2-4)

                Essentially Isaiah sees a vision of the last days, where God’s church would be restored and the Temples would be built and shortly following that the Second Coming of Jesus would happen, where there would be 1,000 years of peace in the World.

                The most interesting part of this, to me, is the following: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the tops of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…” (Isaiah 2:2) The reason this is so fascinating to me, is because the “tops of mountains” is a translation of a meaning of the word “Ute” which was the Indian Tribe of Utah, where the state was named and one of the most famous Temples in the world… the Salt Lake Temple has visitors from ALL around the world flock there on a daily basis. Isaiah was speaking of the Latter-day Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

                In the last days, the proud and the wicked will be brought low and the judgement will occur for everyone during the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I suggest anyone reading this and wanting to know more, would watch the movie "Mountain of the Lord"