Isaiah, having given Millennial Kingdom encouragement to the believers, returns to the political conditions in his part of the world — The Assyrian menace. He warns the arrogant alcoholics of the Northern Kingdom, in the palace, and the priests and prophets as well. Then, he warns Judah that the same fate awaits them because of their abandoning Yahweh and seeking Egypt’s help as well as the darkness of the spiritual realm. This all leads to his teachings being mocked by those given to alcohol, to which he responds with biting satire, and lampoons those of Judah as well for their inability to get things right.
Paul vs. James
Paul and James shared the same beliefs about Jesus Christ, but they did not share methods of ministry. The two men had a history of conflict and uneasiness with each other. They also happened to be the only two people who Christ Himself saved after His resurrection. In this section, the two meet again. Paul has with him an entourage of Gentile believers from the various churches, and they are bearing monetary gifts to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. James and the pastors of Jerusalem are quick to get to what is making them uneasy with Paul – his teachings that the rituals of Moses are valueless for salvation. They want Paul to pay for the vows of four Jews at the temple to appease the Jews disturbed by his teachings. Not only was this outside of Paul’s principles and expensive, but it also brings about Paul’s arrest, and the appeasement failed, as they usually do.
Old Testament Maranatha!
The prophet sees ahead into the Messianic Kingdom Age when Jesus returns to earth with His saints, and establishes Divine rule over the earth. His capital city will be Jerusalem and from there the nations of the world will flock to worship Him. Isaiah, who lived almost all his life under the threat of Assyrian invasion, was excited over the thought of Messiah’s rule on earth “in that day.”
Upper Level Christianity
Considering all the apostle Paul faced up to this point – the physical persecutions and hardships – without losing zeal for ministry, as evidenced by his willingness to face further persecutions and hardships which he is being assured by the Holy Spirit await him in Jerusalem. These warnings are not prohibitions, but a heads up to the man who would spread Christianity throughout the Roman empire. This is upper level Christianity.
Setting Things Right
Isaiah sees the day coming when the Lord will deal directly with the maritime superpower city of Tyre. He goes on to see God set things right with other nations who disregard Him and rule by corruption, and that awful sin of self-serving pride; both on earth and in the spiritual. He quotes God: “in that day the Lord will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth.” God will set things right on earth in that day.
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