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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.
While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2026 would occur during September or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in March or April, respectively. Also, if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in February, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of August 12th, 2026, at 12:25 P.M. – August 16th, 2026, at 1:49 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset. The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon. The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verse of the day for September 3rd is Isaiah 48:17. The full name of the book Isaiah is “The Book of Isaiah.” When the book Isaiah was written, Judah was an independent country; therefore, it had not yet become the Roman province Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh]. The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa. The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e. Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah. The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights]. The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].
The first king of Israel was King Saul, the second king of Israel was King David, and the third king of Israel was one of Davidʼs sons, King Solomon. After King Solomon died, Israel was split into two nations. Ten tribes formed the Northern Kingdom, which kept the name Israel and is also known as Ephraim. Two tribes formed the Southern Kingdom, which is also known as Judah. The twelve tribes of Israel are listed as follows, in order of birth of the sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Joseph. Also, the tribe of Joseph is subdivided into the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. In that regard, Joseph has a double portion. In some parts of the Bible, the tribe of Ephraim is referred to as the tribe of Joseph. The two tribes of the Southern Kingdom are Judah and Benjamin. Below is a link to a map showing the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). For reference, Jerusalem is located in grid coordinate C6.
https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/ot5.jpg
If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.
https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/ot5.jpg
Many Israelites of the Southern Kingdom, which is also known as Judah, were exiled to Babylon in 586 B.C. Israelites returned to the land in 516 B.C., which was seventy years later. In that regard, the prophets are categorized as pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic prophets. Isaiah is categorized as a pre-exilic prophet.
Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, it is useful to study all of Isaiah 48. In that regard, below is content related to Isaiah 48.
Note: Isaiah 48 starts with Isaiah quoting God the Father. That quoting of God the Father began in Isaiah 45:18.
Isaiah 48:1
“Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are named Israel and who have come forth from the waters of Judah, who swear / take an oath by the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One and invoke / make mention of the 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead of Israel, not in truth nor in righteousness.
Note: In this verse, the phrase have come forth from the waters of Judah metaphorically refers to people who are descended from Judah. This verse indicates that Judahites were making promises in the name of God the Father and were mentioning God the Father but were doing so deceitfully and for selfish purposes.
Isaiah 48:2
“Certainly, they have called themselves of the holy city and have leaned on the 'Elohiym/Godhead of Israel. Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One of hosts / armies / tsaba' [tsah-VAH] / צָבָא is His name.
Note: Judahites at the time that Isaiah wrote Isaiah 48 calling themselves of the holy city refers to those Judahites claiming that they are holy because they are associated with the holy city Jerusalem. In that regard, at the time that Isaiah wrote Isaiah 48, Judahites claimed to be holy and acted as though they were depending on God the Father, when in reality, they were being superficial. In that regard, while it might have superficially seemed that those Judahites were regularly obeying the Word of God, they actually were regularly disobeying the Word of God.
Isaiah 48:3
“I have declared the former things long ago, and they have gone forth from My mouth, and I proclaim them. Suddenly I have acted, and they come to pass.
Note: The uses of a present tense in the phrases I proclaim them and they come to pass are references to what has occurred in the past. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
The word mouth in this verse is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm]. An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the Trinity. The anthropomorphism involving a mouth is a metaphor that calls attention to the sovereignty [supreme authority] of God the Father. Also, the content of this verse calls attention to the omnipotence [all-powerfulness] of God the Father.
Isaiah 48:4
“From My knowing that you are obstinate / harsh / churlish / cruel / stiff-necked / stubborn and that your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead is bronze/brass,
Note: In this verse, the phrases your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead is bronze/brass are metaphorical references to the Judahitesʼ rebelliousness towards God the Father.
Isaiah 48:5
I declare to you long ago. Before it takes place, I have proclaimed to you so that you do not say, ‘My idol has done them, and my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.’
Note: The use of a present tense in the phrase I declare to you long ago is a reference to what has occurred in the past. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur. God the Father used prophecies to give the Judahites opportunities to recognize that the Judahites should depend on God the Father rather than depending on man-made objects.
Isaiah 48:6
“You have heard; look at all this. You, do you not declare? I have proclaimed to you new things from this time, even hidden things which you have not known.
Note: The Judahites needed to admit that what God the Father had predicted is true. Also, people are unable to innately understand the Word of God. Instead, people need to learn the Word of God.
Isaiah 48:7
“They have been created now and not long ago, and before today, you have not heard them so that you do not say, ‘Behold, I have known them.’
Note: From the perspective of the Judahites, what God the Father was revealing to them seemed to have just been created. In other words, it was brand new to them. Of course, God the Father is omniscient [ahm-NISH-uhnt] [all-knowing]; therefore, the phrase They have been created now and not long ago in this verse is a metaphorical way of conveying to the Judahites that the information was new to them.
Isaiah 48:8
“You have not heard; you have not known. Even from long ago, your ear has not been open. Indeed, I have known that you deal very treacherously / faithlessly / unfaithfully / deceitfully. You have been called a rebel / transgressor from the belly.
Note: In this verse, the word belly refers to a womb. In that regard, this verse calls attention to the topic of the old sin nature (OSN). Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.
Isaiah 48:9
“For the sake of My name, I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off.
Note: The name of someone refers to the reputation of that person. In that regard, for the sake of His reputation, God the Father refrained from destroying all of the Judahites. Refraining from destroying all of the Judahites was a manifestation of God the Fatherʼs grace. God the Fatherʼs actions of being gracious call attention to the perfect character of God the Father.
Isaiah 48:10
“Behold, I have refined you but not among/with silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Note: This verse involves a metaphor referring to refining that is done together with silver. In that regard, something refined together with silver would be among the silver when the refining occurs. Refining of silver involves intense heat for the purpose of removing dross. In that regard, the suffering about which Isaiah was prophesying would not be so intense as to be unbearable for the Judahites. Instead, it would be enough to give the Judahites an opportunity or opportunities to change their ways of life. In that regard, when a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ refrains from obeying the Word of God, suffering can give that believer an opportunity or opportunities to change that believerʼs way of life such that that believer regularly learns and obeys the Word of God.
Isaiah 48:11
“For My own sake, for My own sake, I act, for how is it defiled? Also, My glory I do not give to another.
Note: The name of God the Father is what is referenced by the pronoun it in this verse. The content of verse 9 provides context for that usage of the pronoun it in verse 11. As mentioned in the notes for verse 9, the name of someone refers to the reputation of that person.
Just as the content of verse 9 indicates that for the sake of His reputation, God the Father refrained from destroying all of the Judahites, so also the content of verse 11 indicates that for the sake of His reputation, God the Father took wrathful action regarding the Judahitesʼ disobeying of the Word of God. If God the Father refrained from taking wrathful action regarding the Judahitesʼ disobeying of the Word of God, then the reputation of God the Father would be defiled. Synonymous ways to refer to God the Fatherʼs reputation being defiled if He were to refrain from taking wrathful action regarding the Judahitesʼ disobeying of the Word of God include the phrase His name would be sullied and His name would be besmirched.
If God the Father were to refrain from taking wrathful action regarding the Judahitesʼ disobeying of the Word of God, then glory could be given to one or more false gods, one or more angels, one or more human sinners, or some combination thereof. In that regard, if God the Father were to refrain from taking wrathful action regarding the Judahitesʼ disobeying of the Word of God, then it would seem that either God the Father does not exist or that God the Father is ineffectual—in other words, lacking the ability to do anything. If it were to seem that God the Father either does not exist or is ineffectual, then people would look to someone else to glorify. In that regard, God the Father refraining from taking wrathful action regarding the Judahitesʼ disobeying of the Word of God would result in God the Father giving away the attention that He deserves such that one or more false gods, one or more angels, one or more human sinners, or some combination thereof would receive attention in place of God the Father receiving attention.
Isaiah 48:12
“Hear, listen to, and obey Me, O Jacob, even Israel My called one. I am He. I am first. I am also last.
Note: This verse calls attention to the eternality of God the Father.
Isaiah 48:13
“Surely, My hand has founded the earth, and My right hand has spread out the heavens. When I call to them, they stand together.
Note: The reference to a hand is an anthropomorphism. As mentioned in the notes for verse 3, an anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the essence of the Trinity. The anthropomorphism involving a hand in Isaiah 48:13 is a metaphor that calls attention to the power of God the Father. The second reference to a hand includes the use of the word right. Because the right hand is typically the stronger hand for most people, it is possible that the usage of the term right hand is an intensified emphasis that emphatically calls attention to the omnipotence [all-powerfulness] of God the Father.
In the context of this verse, the word heavens refers to the atmosphere of the earth and to outer space. Regarding the word heaven, below is a summary of the different usages for that word.
• The first heaven (also known as [aka] first heavens): the atmosphere of earth
• The second heaven (aka second heavens): outer space
• The Third Heaven (aka Third Heavens or simply as Heaven): the location of the throne room of God the Father
Isaiah 48:14
“Assemble, all of you, and hear, listen, and obey! Who among them has declared these things? Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has loved him; he carries out His good pleasure on Babylon—and His arm on the Chaldeans.
Note: In this verse, the pronouns him and he refer to the Persian king named Cyrus [SIGH-ruhs], who was previously mentioned in Isaiah 44 and Isaiah 45. Persia was east of Babylon. For geographical context, below is a link to a map. While Persia is not labeled on that map, Persia was located in grid coordinates F2, F3, and F4, as well as further east than the area marked by those grid coordinates. For reference, Babylon is on the edge of grid coordinates E3 and E4 on that map.
https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/ot6.jpg
If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.
https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/ot6.jpg
The content of Isaiah 45:1 reveals that Cyrus was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that regard, the content of Isaiah 45:1 refers to Cyrus with the phrase His anointed. In that phrase, the pronoun His refers to God the Father. In the Bible, the term anointed is only used to refer either to the Lord Jesus Christ or to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Cyrus believed in the Lord as the Savior before the Lord was born as the Human the Lord Jesus Christ, Cyrus did not necessarily know what the Lordʼs name would be. The same applies to any believer in the Lord as the Savior before the Lord was born. In that regard, the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity.
The use of the perfect tense in the phrase has loved him is a reference to the future. Such a use of the perfect tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will happen in the future? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.
The use of a present tense in the phrase carries out in this verse is also a reference to what will occur in the future. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
Cyrus, while leading the the Persians and Medes [MEEDZ], defeated the Chaldeans [kal-DEE-uhnz]. The Chaldeans were the ruling class of Babylon. As such, the term Chaldeans is used synonymously to refer to the people of the Babylonian Empire. When Cyrus defeated the Chaldeans, Babylon was ruled by Belshazzar [BEL-shuh-zahr or bel-SHAZ-ahr or bel-SHAZ-uhr]. Belshazzar was a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar [neb-oo-kad-NEZ-ahr or neb-uh-kuhd-NEZ-uhr or neb-yuh-kuhd-NEZ-uhr] (also known in English as Nebuchadrezzar [neb-oo-kad-REZ-ahr or neb-uh-kuhd-REZ-uhr or neb-yuh-kuhd-REZ-uhr]). Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylon during the time of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar eventually became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Nebuchadnezzar believed in the Lord as the Savior before the Lord was born as the Human the Lord Jesus Christ, Nebuchadnezzar did not necessarily know what the Lordʼs name would be.
Belshazzar was decadent. In that regard, he was self-indulgent. In his self-indulgence, he looked for happiness from entertainment. When Cyrus and the forces that he led attacked Babylon, Belshazzar was entertaining himself by means of a large party. During Belshazzarʼs party and before Cyrus and the forces that he led attacked, fingers of a hand miraculously appeared and wrote a message of judgment on a wall. The topic of Belshazzarʼs party and the attack led by Cyrus is covered in Daniel 5. The handwriting on the wall is mentioned in Daniel 5:5 and Daniel 5:24–28.
In Isaiah 48:14, the pronoun them refers to the man-made objects referenced in verse 5. In that regard, content in verse 14 calls attention to the uselessness of those man-made objects. In contrast, verse 14 calls attention to the sovereignty [supreme authority] of God the Father, the omniscience [all-knowingness] of God the Father, and the omnipotence [all-powerfulness] of God the Father.
Isaiah 48:15
“I, even I, have spoken; indeed, I have called him. I have brought him, and he has made successful/prosperous his way.
Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the phrase have brought and the phrase has made are references to the future, and those uses of the perfect tense can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already. In that regard, the content of this verse involves a prophecy regarding Cyrus. That prophecy indicated that Cyrus would experience success/prosperity. That success/prosperity occurred because it was God the Fatherʼs plan for Cyrus to experience success/prosperity.
Isaiah 48:16
“Come near to Me. Hear, listen to, and obey this: from the first I have not spoken in secret; from the time of it occurring, I am there.” Now 'Adonay [add-oh-NIGH] Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One has sent me and His Spirit.
Note: As mentioned in the notes above verse 1, Isaiah 48 starts with Isaiah quoting God the Father, and that quoting of God the Father began in Isaiah 45:18. That quotation ends in Isaiah 48:16. The content of Isaiah 48:16 then continues with Isaiah referencing himself and God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, Isaiah recognized that he was empowered by God the Holy Spirit.
While some English translations of Isaiah 48:16 have two instances of the pronoun Me with a capital M, there are no capital letters in the Hebrew of the Bible; therefore, whether a capital letter can be used for a pronoun depends on the context of the content in which the pronoun is located. Regarding the context of the content of Isaiah 48:16, the content of Isaiah 45:18 through part of Isaiah 48:16 involves Isaiah quoting God the Father; therefore, it is logical to conclude that the first instance of the pronoun Me in Isaiah 48:16 refers to God the Father. Because the first instance of the pronoun Me in Isaiah 48:16 refers to God the Father, it is logical to use a capital letter M as the first letter of the first instance of the pronoun Me in Isaiah 48:16. Because the content of Isaiah 45:18 through part of Isaiah 48:16 involves Isaiah quoting God the Father, it is logical to conclude that the phrase 'Adonay [add-oh-NIGH] Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One has sent refers to God the Father.
Because the phrase 'Adonay [add-oh-NIGH] Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One has sent refers to God the Father, the second instance of the pronoun me in Isaiah 48:16 must refer to someone other than God the Father. In that regard, absent from Isaiah 48:16 and the preceding verses is any quoting of God the Son; therefore, it is logical to conclude that the second instance of the pronoun me in Isaiah 48:16 must refer to someone other than God the Son. Also, because God the Holy Spirit is referenced after the word and, it is logical to conclude that the second instance of the pronoun me in Isaiah 48:16 must refer to someone other than God the Holy Spirit. Because the second instance of the pronoun me in Isaiah 48:16 must refer to someone other than God the Son and other than God the Holy Spirit, it is logical to use a lowercase letter m as the first letter of the second instance of the pronoun me in Isaiah 48:16. Also, absent from Isaiah 48:16 and the preceding verses is any quoting of Cyrus; therefore, it is logical to conclude that the second instance of the pronoun me in Isaiah 48:16 must refer to someone other than Cyrus. In that regard, Isaiah has been communicating; therefore, it is logical to conclude that the second instance of the pronoun me in Isaiah 48:16 refers to Isaiah.
The content of this verse involves the period of time before the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst]. Specifically, that content involves the Age of Israel. With regard to the Age of Israel and the Day of Pentecost, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.
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Dispensation |
Start |
Ending or Interruption |
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Age of the Gentiles |
Adam |
The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. |
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Age of Israel |
Exodus |
The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost. |
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Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel) |
First Advent of Christ |
The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ. |
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Church Age |
Day of Pentecost |
The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church. |
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Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed) |
Rapture |
The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ. |
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Millennium |
Second Advent |
The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers. |
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Eternal State |
Great White Throne Judgment |
The Eternal State will be never-ending. |
Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.
judge −e +ment
= judg +ment
= judgment
Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.
After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.
Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.
Regarding the content of Isaiah 48:16, while some believers had empowerment from God the Holy Spirit before the Day of Pentecost, such empowerment was available only to a limited number of people and for specific purposes. That empowerment before the Day of Pentecost is known as enduement. Enduement involves differences from the filling of God the Holy Spirit which occurs in the Church Age.
When a believer who had enduement sinned, once that believer confessed that believerʼs sins to God the Father, that believer needed to pray to God the Father for the enduement to be restored. In contrast, once a Church Age believer commits a sin after salvation, after that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit is restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
Isaiah 48:17
Thus has said Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead, Who teaches you to benefit, Who leads you in the way you go.
Note: In this verse, the Hebrew verb that can be translated as “benefit” is הוֹעִיל [pronounced hoh-EEL and can be transliterated as ho`iyl]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) That verb is an inflected form of the root word יָעַל [pronounced yah-AL and can be transliterated as ya`al]. Regarding the use of the verb ho`iyl in this verse, while that verb can be translated using the English verb profit, absent from the context of this verse and the surrounding verses is anything involving the generating of wealth; therefore, it is logical to conclude that the Hebrew verb ho`iyl in this verse is used in a different sense than that of generating wealth. In that regard, the context of this verse and the surrounding verses is such that it is logical to translate the Hebrew verb ho`iyl in this verse using the English verb benefit.
Regarding the phrase Who leads you in the way you go, the phrase Who teaches you to benefit provides context. In that regard, the way that is referenced in this verse is a beneficial way rather than any type of way. Therefore, this verse indicates that God the Father provides believers with teaching that provides guidance as to how a believer should live his or her life in a way that is beneficial to that believer. That teaching comes from the Word of God.
Isaiah 48:18
“If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being / peace is like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea
Note: The use of a present tense in the verb is in this verse is a reference to what could have occurred. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to what could have occurred can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine what could have occurred as though the reader or hearer is watching what could have occurred as it would have been occurring.
The content of Isaiah 48:17 provides context for the content of Isaiah 48:18. As mentioned in the notes for verse 17, God the Father provides believers with teaching that provides guidance as to how a believer should live his or her life in a way that is beneficial to that believer, and that teaching comes from the Word of God. In that regard, the content of verse 18 calls attention to the fact that Judahites disregarded commandments that are in the Word of God.
Isaiah uses metaphors in this verse. In that regard, the metaphor involving a river calls attention to the fact that if the Judahites who were disregarding the Word of God had instead learned and obeyed the Word of God, those Judahites would have experienced contentment. Regarding how a metaphorical river relates to contentment, rivers provide water that can be used to irrigate fields such that people can benefit from those fields having sufficient water for growing crops and pasturing livestock.
The metaphor involving waves calls attention to the fact that if the Judahites who were disregarding the Word of God had instead learned and obeyed the Word of God, those Judahites would have been frequently unselfish. Regarding how metaphorical waves relate to being frequently unselfish, waves form with a continual frequency. For example, when one watches waves, one can see one wave after another after another. Likewise, the Judahites who were disregarding the Word of God could have been frequently unselfish had those Judahites learned and obeyed the Word of God.
Isaiah 48:19
and offspring is / seed is / descendants are like the sand, and the offspring of your inward parts like its grains. Their name is not cut off and is not destroyed from My presence.”
Note: The content of the beginning part of this verse is part of the same sentence as the content of the preceding verse. In that regard, just as the use of a present tense in the verb is in verse 18 is a reference to what could have occurred, so also the uses of a present tense in the phrase offspring is / seed is / descendants are in verse 19 are references to what could have occurred. Likewise, the uses of a present tense in the phrases is not cut off and is not destroyed are references to what could have occurred. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to what could have occurred can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine what could have occurred as though the reader or hearer is watching what could have occurred as it would have been occurring. The content of this verse indicates that if the Judahites who were disregarding the Word of God had instead learned and obeyed the Word of God, those Judahites could have had many descendants which would have continued the family lines of those Judahites.
Isaiah 48:20
Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with the sound of joyful shouting; proclaim this. Send it out to the end of the earth. Say, “Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has redeemed His servant Jacob.”
Note: Cyrusʼs defeating of the Chaldeans enabled the Judahites to be freed from the Judahitesʼ captivity in Babylon. In that regard, God the Father had Isaiah command the Judahites to use their freedom to get away from the Chaldeans. In addition, God the Father had Isaiah command the Judahites to communicate to people that God the Father had caused the Judahites to be free from the Chaldeans. In that regard, while Cyrus was the human ruler whom God the Father utilized to accomplish the freeing of the Judahites, God the Father made it possible for Cyrus to accomplish that freeing; therefore, all of the credit for the freeing of the Judahites should be given to God the Father.
Isaiah 48:21
They have not thirsted; He has led them through the deserts. He has made the water flow out of the rock for them. He splits the rock, and the water gushes forth.
Note: The uses of a present tense in the phrases He splits the and the water gushes forth are references to what has occurred in the past. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur. The content of this verse refers to water coming out of a rock while the Israelites were in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt.
The content of verse 20 provides context for the content of verse 21. The content of verse 20 references Judahites leaving Babylon, and the content of verse 21 references God the Fatherʼs provision for the Israelites in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. In that regard, the content of verse 21 calls attention to the fact that God the Father would provide for the Judahites who leave Babylon. Also, the reference to the Exodus of Egypt calls attention to the fact that the leaving of Babylon is like another exodus. In that regard, the leaving of Babylon can be referred to as the Second Exodus.
Isaiah 48:22
“There is no peace for the wicked,” has said Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: A selfish person lacks tranquility in his or her soul. In that regard, the content of verse 21 provides context for the content of verse 22. God the Fatherʼs providing of water for the Israelites of the Exodus from Egypt involved circumstances in which many Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus were complaining. Many of those Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus were wicked. The wicked Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus died before the other Israelites entered the Promised Land—that is, the land that was promised to Abraham and his descendants who are descended through Isaac and Jacob. That land can also be referred to as the land of Canaan.
When Isaiah communicated what is referenced in Isaiah 48, Isaiah was communicating to Judahites before Judahites would be in captivity in Babylon. That occasion of prophesying was hundreds of years after the Exodus from Egypt. In that regard, God the Father had Isaiah call to the attention of the Judahites the matter of there being no peace for the wicked. In having Isaiah communicate that after Isaiah mentioning the water coming from the rock after the Exodus from Egypt, God the Father had Isaiah thereby provide the Judahites with an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus. Many of the Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus lacked tranquility of soul, and those such Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus died outside the Promised Land.
In order to have tranquility of soul, a believer needs to be in fellowship with the Trinity. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
Sincerely,
John
