John314-16.com



Isaiah 55:6 and the Other Verses of Isaiah 55





“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.  


Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.  


archive.is/John314-16.com/Isaiah_55-6_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Isaiah_55.html


archive.ph/John314-16.com/Isaiah_55-6_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Isaiah_55.html


web.archive.org/*/John314-16.com/Isaiah_55-6_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Isaiah_55.html


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 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 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 April.  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, and if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in March, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred 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.  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 October 5th is Isaiah 55:6.  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, below is content related to Isaiah 55.  


Note:  Content in Isaiah 55 references the Millennium, which is the 1,000-year period during which the Lord Jesus Christ will be reigning on the earth.  With regard to the Millennium, 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 October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.  


Dispensation

Start

Ending or Interruption




Age of the Gentiles

Adam

The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.




Age of Israel

Exodus

The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost.




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.




Church Age

Day of Pentecost

The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church.




Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed)

Rapture

The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ.




Millennium

Second Advent

The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.




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.  


Getting back to Isaiah 55, that chapter refers to the Millennium.  In addition, some of the content of Isaiah 55 refers to eternal salvation.  In that regard, at the time that Isaiah wrote Isaiah 55, God the Son had not yet been born as the Messiah, the perfect Human Who would never commit any sins and Who would be the Savior by being judged for the sins of humanity.  The Messiah has now been born, and His title and name in English are Lord Jesus Christ.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, people now receive eternal life by means of faith that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed, the means of receiving eternal life was 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.  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, the means of receiving eternal life was by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity.  While people might have been unaware that the judging of the Lord would occur while He was on a cross, they could still believe that He would be judged for the sins of humanity.  


Before the First Advent of the Lord, there were many teaching illustrations that revealed that the Savior would be judged for the sins of humanity.  The teaching illustrations can be found in the Old Testament.  In that regard, narratives in the Old Testament taught that the Savior would be judged for the sins of humanity.  Also, regulations and rituals specified in the Mosaic Law part of the Old Testament taught that the Savior would be judged for the sins of humanity.  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.  Regarding the information that the Old Testament narratives and the regulations and rituals specified in the Mosaic Law part of the Old Testament provided, there was enough information for people to realize that they are unable to provide eternal life for themselves and that the means by which to receive eternal life is through believing that the Savior would never sin and would be judged for the sins of humanity.  


After the Lord was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, the apostle Paul wrote the book Galatians.  The content of Galatians 2:15–16 covers the matter of salvation being by means of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ rather than by means of works involving the Mosaic Law.  In that regard, below is content related to Galatians 2:15–16.  Regarding the word We in Galatians 2:15, Paul was Jewish.  Also, Paul wrote Galatians 2:15 elliptically, omitting a verb.  In that regard, the word are is included in the below translation in order to help readers of the English translation understand what Paul communicates in that verse, and that verb is italicized to call attention to Paulʼs writing of this verse elliptically.  


Galatians 2:15

“We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;


Galatians 2:16

nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by works of Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of Law, since by works of Law no flesh will be justified.”


Getting back to Isaiah 55, below is content related to Isaiah 55:1.  


Isaiah 55:1

“Ho!  Every thirsty one, come to the waters.  You who have no money/silver:  come, buy, and eat.  Come; buy wine and milk without money/silver and without cost.


Note:  In Isaiah 55:1, the phrase Every thirsty one refers to unbelievers.  In that regard, the word waters as used in this verse is a metaphorical reference to salvation.  Also, at the time that Isaiah 55 was written, Israelites used money that was in the form of silver.  In this verse, eating is also a metaphorical reference to salvation.  


Drinking and eating are non-meritorious acts, just like believing in Jesus Christ as the Savior for eternal salvation is a non-meritorious act.  In a non-meritorious act, the person doing the action receives zero merit.  In other words, there is nothing about which a person can boast with regard to that action.  The same applies to faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior for eternal salvation.  Ephesians 2:8–9 covers that subject matter:  “…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.”  


The content of Isaiah 55:1 is repeated below for reference.  


Isaiah 55:1

“Ho!  Every thirsty one, come to the waters.  You who have no money/silver:  come, buy, and eat.  Come; buy wine and milk without money/silver and without cost.


Isaiah 55:2

“Why do you weigh out silver / spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Hear, listen carefully to, and obey Me, and eat what is good, and your soul delights itself in abundance.


Note:  The content of Isaiah 55:2 indicates that attempting to obtain salvation by means of oneʼs works is useless.  The Hebrew noun translated as “abundance” in this verse is דֶּשֶׁן [pronounced DEH-shehn and can be transliterated as deshen].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  That noun is an inflected form of the root word דֶּשֶׁן [pronounced DEH-shehn and can be transliterated as deshen].  The translation abundance is a figurative usage of the word.  A synonymous figurative usage of the word is prosperity.  Such usages came from a literal usage that refers to fatty parts of animals that were sacrificed under the rules of the Mosaic Law and also sacrificed before the Mosaic Law.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled; therefore, people should refrain from sacrificing animals because such sacrifices have been invalidated by the Lord Jesus Christʼs fulfilling of the Mosaic Law when He received the judgment for the sins of humanity.  


Isaiah 55:3

“Incline your ear and come to Me.  Hear, listen, and obey, that your soul may live, and I cut an everlasting covenant with you—the faithful khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindnesses / mercies / unfailing love / loyal love of David.


Note:  In this verse, the use of a present tense in the phrase I cut an everlasting covenant with you is a reference to 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.  


The Hebrew verb translated as “cut” in Isaiah 55:3 is אֶכְרְתָה [pronounced ekh-reh-TAH and can be transliterated as echretah].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word כָּרַת [pronounced kah-RATH and can be transliterated as karath].  When the verb karath is used in reference to a covenant, karath refers to making a covenant.  The same Hebrew verb is used in Genesis 15 to refer to a covenant that God the Father made with Abram before Abram was named Abraham.  In that regard, God the Father had Abram cut in half the carcasses of three sacrificed animals:  a heifer, a goat, and a ram.  During the night after Abram had cut the carcasses in half, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between the carcass halves.  The content of Genesis 15:9–21 covers that topic.  In that content, the sacrifice of the animals calls attention to the Savior being judged for the sins of humanity.  


Also, in Isaiah 55:3, the phrase of David refers to David receiving lovingkindnesses / mercies / unfailing love / loyal love from God the Father.  In exhibiting lovingkindnesses / mercies / unfailing love / loyal love toward David, God the Father established a covenant with David.  That covenant is known as the Davidic Covenant.  The Davidic Covenant involves the Lord Jesus Christ being descended from David and also the Lord ruling forever.  


In this verse, the reference to the Davidic Covenant might be calling attention to God the Father exhibiting lovingkindnesses / mercies / unfailing love / loyal love toward the Israelites who believe that the Savior would be judged for the sins of humanity.  In that regard, God the Father had exhibited lovingkindnesses / mercies / unfailing love / loyal love toward David in cutting a covenant with David.  It is worth noting that absent from this verse is any indication that God the Father would make the same covenant with the Israelite believers that God the Father had made with David.  


While the covenant mentioned in Isaiah 55:3 is different from the Davidic Covenant, the covenant mentioned in Isaiah 55:3 is associated with the Davidic Covenant.  In that regard, when the Lord Jesus Christ will be reigning on the earth during the Millennium, the restored nation Israel will have a special function amongst all of the other nations.  That function will involve calling attention to the Lord Jesus Christ.  


Isaiah 55:4

“Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.


Note:  The referent of the pronoun him in Isaiah 55:4 is King David, the second king of Israel.  David is mentioned in Isaiah 55:3.  Also, in Isaiah 55:4, David might be used as a type of Christ.  A type of Christ is a teaching illustration that foreshadows Christ.  In the Bible, there is a variety of types that serve as teaching illustrations for learning about the Lord Jesus Christ.  The study of types is referred to as typology.  The reference to David in Isaiah 55:4 looks to the past, and if the reference also involves David as a type that teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ, then Isaiah 55:4 also calls attention to the future Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.  


Isaiah 55:5

“Behold, you call a nation you do not know, and a nation which has not known you runs to you because of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead, even the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.”


Note:  In the context of Isaiah 55, the word nation is used to refer to Gentiles.  Gentiles are non-Israelite people.  The Hebrew noun translated as “nation” in this verse is גוֹי [pronounced GOH-ee and can be transliterated as gowy].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word גּוֹי [pronounced GOH-ee and can be transliterated as gowy].  The time period to which Isaiah 55:5 refers is the Millennium.  


Also, while the referent of the pronoun you that is used in Isaiah 55:5 is unspecified in Isaiah 55, it is logical to conclude that that pronoun refers to the Israelites.  Considering the fact that the usage of the pronouns you and your in all of the other verses containing you or your in Isaiah 55 involves references to Israelites, combined with the fact that the Godhead—in other words, the Trinity—is mentioned in Isaiah 55, it logically makes sense that the usage of you in Isaiah 55:5 is in reference to the Israelites.  If the usage of you in Isaiah 55:5 were referring to a Member of the Trinity, then it would be logical for the verse to contain wording such as will run to You because of You Yourself instead of the phrase will run to you because of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead.  


The uses of a present tense in the phrase you call and the phrase runs to you are references to the future, and those uses of a present tense 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.   Also, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase has glorified you is a reference to the future.  In that regard, why would a verb in the perfect tense be used to refer to 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.  In that regard, the content of Isaiah 55:5 involves a prophecy about God the Father giving glory to the nation Israel during the Millennium.  


God the Father giving glory to the nation Israel will result in glory being given to God the Son.  The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son.  Giving glory to the Lord Jesus Christ involves calling attention to Him.  It will be important for peopleʼs attention to be called to the Lord Jesus Christ because people who will be born after the Millennium starts will be unbelievers, and they will need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior in order to receive eternal life.  


Isaiah 55:6

Seek Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One while He may be found.  Call upon Him while He is near.


Note:  There is a limited window of opportunity for an unbeliever to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  In other words, there is a limited amount of time for an unbeliever to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  Once an unbeliever experiences physical death, that time has ended.  For an unbeliever, calling upon God the Father involves acknowledging to God the Father that that person who had been an unbeliever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  


Likewise, there is a limited window of opportunity for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to learn and obey the Word of God.  Once a believer experiences physical death, that time has ended.  For a believer, calling upon God the Father involves praying to Him.  


Isaiah 55:7

The wicked forsakes his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.  He returns to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, and He has compassion on him, and to our 'Elohiym/Godhead because He abundantly pardons.


Note:  In Isaiah 55:7, Isaiah switches his focus from unbelievers to believers.  In that regard, the referent of the pronoun him in Isaiah 55:7 is the word man in the phrase the unrighteous man.  With that in mind, the usage of the verb returns indicates that such a man is a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior Who would be judged for the sins of humanity.  The invitation to return is an invitation to reestablish fellowship with the Trinity.  


Once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity and is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  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.  


Isaiah 55:8

“Certainly, My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,”—a declaration of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.


Note:  Human beings lack omniscience [ahm-NISH-uhns] [all-knowingness].  Omniscience is one of the ten characteristics that can be used to describe the essence of the Members of the Trinity.  Below is the essence of the Trinity categorized into ten characteristics.  


Sovereignty

Omnipotence

Righteousness

Omniscience

Justice

Omnipresence

Love

Immutability

Eternal life

Veracity


Sovereignty:  The Members of the Trinity have authority over all creation.  


Righteousness:  The Members of the Trinity are perfectly good.  


Justice:  The Members of the Trinity are perfectly fair.  


Love:  The Members of the Trinity have perfect goodwill toward creation.  


Eternal life:  The Members of the Trinity have always existed and will always exist.


Omnipotence:  The Members of the Trinity are totally powerful. 


Omniscience:  The Members of the Trinity know everything.  


Omnipresence:  The Members of the Trinity are everywhere.  


Immutability:  The Members of the Trinity never change.  


Veracity:  The Members of the Trinity are always truthful.  


Isaiah 55:9

“Certainly, as the heavens have been higher than the earth, in like manner My ways have been higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.


Note:  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


It is possible that the reference to heavens in this verse refers to the atmosphere of earth and to outer space because when people on earth look up at the sky, they can see evidence of the atmosphere of earth and outer space.  


Isaiah 55:10

“Certainly, as the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return there but have watered the earth and have made it bear, and it sprouts, and have furnished seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 


Note:  While an evaporated substance, which is a substance in gas form, can go up into the atmosphere, a rain drop, which is a liquid, and snow, which is a solid, do not return to the atmosphere.  


Isaiah 55:11

so is My Word which goes forth from My mouth.  It does not return to Me empty but has accomplished what I desire and has succeeded in that for which I have sent it.


Note:  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.  


In this verse, the uses of the perfect tense in the phrase has accomplished and the phrase has succeeded are references to what occurs.  Such uses of the perfect tense have a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what occurs?  Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what occurs 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 Word of God always accomplishes what God the Father desires, and the Word of God always succeeds in that for which God the Father sends it.  


Isaiah 55:12

“Certainly, you go out with joy and are led forth with peace.  The mountains and the hills break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field clap their hands.


Note:  In this verse, the uses of a present tense are references to the future.  In that regard, the passage Isaiah 55:12–13 describes the Millennium.  Mountains, hills, and trees are personified in this verse.  That personification metaphorically calls attention to the perfect environment of the Millennium.  


Isaiah 55:13

“Instead of the thorn bush, the cypress comes up, and instead of the nettle, the myrtle comes up.  It has been a memorial/name to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One for a lasting sign which is not cut off.”


Note:  In this verse, the uses of a present tense are references to the future.  Also, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase has been a memorial/name in this verse 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 content of Isaiah 55:13 refers to the perfect environment during the Millennium.  In that regard, the perfect environment of the earth during the Millennium will call attention to the Trinity.  That perfect environment will last throughout the Millennium.  In that regard, Isaiah indicates in Isaiah 65:17 and in Isaiah 66:22 that there will be new heavens and a new earth.  Unspecified in the context of those verses is whether the phrase new heavens refers to the first heavens (the atmosphere of the earth), the second heavens (outer space), or both the first heavens and the second heavens.  The first heavens are also known as the first heaven.  The second heavens are also known as the second heaven.  The Third Heaven (also known as Third Heavens or simply as Heaven) is where the throne room of God the Father is located.  In that regard, there is nothing in the Bible indicating that the Third Heaven is anything less than perfect; therefore, it is possible that it is unnecessary for the Third Heaven to be replaced.  Regardless of which heavens are referenced by the phrase new heavens in Isaiah 65:17 and in Isaiah 66:22, the earth will be replaced; therefore, the environment of the Millennium will be replaced.  The new environment that will replace the environment of the Millennium will also be perfect.  


Sincerely,


John