otisaiah8

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

Isaiah 8:1 "Moreover the Lord said unto me, "Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz."

"Moreover", which is to say, lets continue this discussion from the prior chapter. "Maher-shalal-hash-baz" is equal to one of the longest words in the bible, and is made up of four words. Those words are "Haste, spoil, speed, and prey", and written as such these words are explained in a sign, as also the child in Isaiah 7:14. The interpretation is "He hasteneth [to take the] spoil, he speeds [to seize] the prey." This is an Hebrew idiom relating to those two kings of Assyria and the house of Israel from the last chapter, and the "Assyrian" which is one of Satan's names.

The expression, "a man's pen" means "you write it in the language of the commoner." Any time you have a true teacher of God's Word, though he be very highly educated, he is to still relate God's Word to where it may be understood by the common man, and the uneducated. God is saying here that you are to chisel or write on the level that a common man can understand and apply to himself. It is not to be taught in the language of the priest or the educated classes.

Now we will see that there is going to be a baby named Maher-shalal-hash-baz. How would you like to carry a name like that around?

Isaiah 8:2 "And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."

Isaiah 8:3 "And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, "Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz."

The "prophetess" as stated here is Isaiah's wife. When the child is born God is instructing Isaiah to name his son Maher-shalal-hash-baz", which in our tongue is "Hast to the spoil, speed to the prey." In other words, it is going to be over in a hurry. God is making a riddle out of this child's name so that it will be a continual reminder of what God has said.

Isaiah 8:4 "For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, 'My father, and my mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away."

This is saying that before this son of Isaiah gets big enought to cry "Mama, and Daddy", before the child can even say a word, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be gone. Remember that Damascus was the capital city of Assyria, and Samaria was the capital city of the House of Israel. Isaiah is instructed to write this in such a language that all the people would hear and understand. Let there be no fear in all of the [nation] house of Judah concerning those ten tribes to the north of the house of Israel that were plotting to destroy her. God will not let it happen. So Isaiah would never forget, he named his child after that promise.

This is exactly what Satan the Antichrist is going to do also; He is going to "be hasty to get to the spoil and he is going to speed to the prey". Satan is going to shave them off, rip them down, cut them up, and divide their houses upon his arrival. His destruction will be quick, sure, and complete; with the biggest revival this old earth has ever seen. The destruction is a spiritual destruction that is aimed at the very soul of men and women, and the battlefield is in the minds of the people. This is why we are to be sealed in our minds [forehead] with that spiritual armor so that we will not be taken by surprise.

The first four verses, in the naming of his son, is a sign to the world. The question is, can you understand that sign?

Isaiah 8:6 "Forasmuch as this People refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;"

"The waters of Shiloah" is to say "the true Prince". This is to be taught in a manner that an uneducated person can understand. The people [of the house of Israel] have refused the true Prince in their matters, and have taken pleasure in going after the wicked, the spoil and the prey with Assyria. Though this is history, it is also prophecy for our generation when the house of Israel of our generation, which are the Christian nations, will also seek their pleasure in joining with "the Assyrian", who is Satan.

Isaiah 8:7 "Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:"

Historically the king of Assyria came against the house of Israel after this time, when they were allies, and swept through the land, destroying, uprooting the people of the house of Israel, and removing them far from their lands. To this day the people of the house of Israel have completely lost the roots of the past to where they simply do not know who they are.

The "Assyrian" of our generation(Satan) will come shortly, and strike just as ruthlessly and complete with his lies and deceptions as what took place back in those ancient times. Satan is going to flood the entire earth with all of his lies, and his locust army of fallen angels will flow through all the channels and peoples around the world. However God will provide a way in that time that will protect you, if you are one of His elect. So that will allow you to see and understand that what Satan is doing and saying is a lie. This is what is detailed in Revelation 12:13-17.

It is because people have refused to believe the true Christ, that God is sending the Antichrist. That is just as plain as it can be stated on any level of understanding.

Isaiah 8:8 "And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel."

When the Antichrist and his forces come to earth to deceive all the people, and stretch out their wings to cover all the nations, he shall pass over us because our faith is in "O Immanuel". However, when Satan does cover the earth, he shall pass right through Judah and Jerusalem and even set up his throne in the exact spot where Christ will build his Millennium temple. It is written, and it shall happen.

II Thessalonians 2:3 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,"

Before you see Christ coming to earth on the "day of the Lord", Paul is saying that this great falling away will come first. The man of sin is Satan, who is also "the son of perdition". Satan will be revealed here on earth and present himself as God, before the return of Jesus Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:4 "Who opposeth and exalteth himself agove all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

This is what Jesus called the "abomination of desolation" in Matthew 24:15, that time when Satan promotes himself to the position of God, and the entire world believes him. He knows that Jerusalem is the place where Christ will return and set up his kingdom, and to be the deceiver, this is also where he will build his temple, and rule his realm from.

Though this verse in Isaiah is historical, it is also a type, or prophecy of what we will see before the end of our generation.

Isaiah 8:9 "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces, and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces."

To "associate yourselves" is to join into a one-world association, and this is happening today in the New Word Order, which flies the flag of the United Nations. God says "gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces" twice for emphasis. God is telling them to do their best to join together for your protection, because God is going to destroy your little one world, Satanic system.

Isaiah 8:10 "Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us."

God is telling them to get the wisest turkeys that you have, and what ever they plan will fall apart. It comes apart because their wisdom is nothing but vanity and foolishness. Why is this? Remember what the prior chapter said; they have the minds of babies. Whatever the words that come out of their mouths to hurt you, God will use it for your defence. God will turn their own words against them. Why? "Because God is with us".

That is what the word "Immanuel" means in the Hebrew; "God [is] with us". That is exactly what God is telling you in this verse; When the world plans and speaks deceit against you, and takes counsel together against you, "it shall not stand". It will not come to pass because God is with us. God is protecting our family, our home, our business when you are in Christ and doing things God's way. God takes care of His own, even in the New World Order.

We are living in the generation when this confederacy of worldly friendships are coming together. It is important to you to understand the protection that God gives His own. If you have eyes to see you will understand this, and if you do not then it will be confusing to you.

Isaiah 8:11 "For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this People, saying,"

In other words, God is putting this in the very strongest of terms to His elect, to His prophets and to those that have ears to hear and understand.

Isaiah 8:12 "Say ye not, `A confederacy,' to all them to whom this People shall say, `A confederacy;' neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid."

"A confederacy" is "one worldism". What this is saying is when they shout out their strengths in their confederacy, don't panic and be afraid. God is putting this in such a strong language, hoping that when you believe it, it will remove all fears from your mind. God is telling you to use common sense, and partake of the "butter [curds] the milk and the honey", which are the words that the prophets wrote down from God for us to feed on, there is nothing that we should fear.

If God is with you, He is in your mind, and there can be no doubt of the truth. That is what being sealed and protected means. God warned Satan that he could do what ever he wants with the people on the earth, but "touch not those that have the seal of God in their foreheads [minds].

Isaiah 8:13 "Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread."

You don't worry about those problems; stay true to the Word and God will take care of those things that come against you.

Isaiah 8:14 "And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."

A "Sanctuary" is a place of safety, and to those that understand and do His will will have that place of safety. However, God will also be a "stone of stumbling" for those that are ignorant of His word, that are looking for a way out such as the rapture theory. When Satan arrives as the "instead of Christ", most all of both, the ten tribes of the house of Israel [the Christian peoples of the world], and those that call themselves Jews (the other two tribes, with Kenites mixed in) will accept and worship Satan.

How could Jesus be a stumbling block to any Christian? Because they have allowed Satan to work into the very heart of their churches through their false doctrines and traditions. These things had better get your attention, or they will lead you to the wrong christ, the Antichrist, and in ignorance you also will be taken by Satan thinking that he is the true Christ. Sometimes the things that seem to be Christian, are not of Christ nor His Word, but from the mind of man. If you desire to chase after those stumbling blocks, then God is not with you, and you are lost.

Isaiah 8:15 "And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken."

Christ will be a safe sanctuary for some, yet for many others He will be a stumbling stone. For if you do not know the difference between the true and the counterfeit Christ, you will be taken by the first. You will find comfort in the Antichrist whom you think is Jesus Christ, only that comfort will lead to your fall. Many people that call themselves Christians, who have gone down the isle (accepting Christ as their personal savior), and profess with their mouth Jesus Christ will be deceived by Satan into thinking that he is their true Christ; And, therefore miss out on the FIRST resurrection to eternal life!. They listened to men and church systems so long that they simply don't know which Christ comes first. They have no idea at all what the chronological order of events are for these final days. They will have to go through the Millennium with a still mortal soul, learning the difference, once-and-for-all to finally get their reward of eternal life, based on their works during the Millennium.

They are told, in their church house, "all you have to do is believe, you don't need to know Revelation, or the Old Testament because you are going to be gone."; But, God ordered that those who claim His name and follow Him should understand the whole word.

Are they given a second chance? No, they had no first chance; They just made a poor choice for the church they attended!

The word "disciple" comes from the word "discipline". A disciple is one that studies the Word and disciplines him or herself in that word.

Isaiah 8:17 "And I will wait upon the Lord, That hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him."

This is the way that you discipline yourself in the Lord. You study His word, then wait on the Lord to give you direction. It is for you to take the first step in finding what God has for you, and you find it in His Word. The only way to find out what is in the word, is to read and study it; if you don't then what is in the word is hidden from you, that is how God hides His face from you. God will not become your protector unless you ask for it, He will not force Himself upon you.

Isaiah 8:18 "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, Which dwelleth in mount Zion."

This is talking about signs, and they are given as children. Remember in the last chapter the child was given a name that "the remnant shall return". Then in the first four verses of this chapter Isaiah's child was given the name,"Maher-shalal-hash-baz", which was the sign and warning "There is hast to the spoil and speed to the prey." These were warnings of things that would come to pass. There would always be a remnant that would know the true Word that would be passed on from generation to generation. Then the last child's name "O Immanuel" which is to say, "God is with us".

These are three signs showing us that there would be one true Christ, and one false christ, and that the true Christ would be with us.

Isaiah 8:19 "And when they shall say to you, `Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:' should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?"

This is a warning to you, when someone tells you that you have to seek after some new form of religion, or doctrine that is not supported in the Word of God; or some new form of spirit worship of talking to the spirits of those that have died and gone on. Today reincarnation is becoming very popular, the idea that souls migrate from one physical body to another when death occurs, this is evil spirit worship and those spirits are called "familiar spirits", and those that people that would call up those evil spirits are the "wizards that peep, and mutter". They are becoming very popular today as they place their ads on television, and appear wherever you go.

God placed each soul in the physical body to pass through this earth age of the flesh but once. When that soul dies, it returns immediately to the Heavenly Father that gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it."

When a person dies, their soul goes instantly to the Father that sent it, and the physical body returns to the dust of the earth that it is made from. Whatever contact you have with any spirit that appears in similar form as that loved one, is not the loved one, but the familiar spirit assigned by Satan to mimic that person. Any form of conversing with with a person that is dead and gone is talking with evil spirits. This is what king Saul did when he went to the wicked witch of Endor to call up the spirit of the prophet Samuel.

Samuel was dead and gone, and the witch of Endor called up the familiar spirit of Samuel, not of God. Saul followed the advice of one of Satans evil spirits, thinking it was the prophet Samuel. This lesson is given in I Samuel 28:7-20, and the old man that Saul had the witch call up, "Saul preceived that it was Samuel". Those evil spirits will appear as you wish them to appear, and what they have to say is exactly what you would expect the counsel of Satan to be, for the spirit doing the talking is from Satan, not God.

These spirits will exists right in your churches, when you allow them to enter, and the advice they give will sound so good, yet be false. Be careful what heathen rituals and customs you bring into your churches, for just because you call them of God, and treat them as if they came from God, if they are not of His Word those things are just as wicked as the spirits brought up by the wicked witch of Endor and presented to Samuel. It looked like Samuel, and talked like Samuel, only what it said was of the devil. It is a shame to attribute anything to God that is from the devil, and that is why you must study the Word to know the difference.

Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: it they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,"

When something is presented as being of the law [commandments] and of the testimony [the Old and New Testament], and what they say does not check out according to what is written in God's word, "there is no light in them." Do you now understand why God would not answer their prayers? They were not of God, and in the light, but they were children of darkness and of the devil.

A prayer of intercession in ignorance and darkness is not answered. The key to identifing these children of darkness, where there is no light is by how they teach God's Word. Is it taught with understanding, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, or is he a one verse Charlie that sputters through one verse, and then rambles on for the next hour with stories, and quotations from other men just like himself. What ever He had to say you can be assured that it is not preparing you for the placement of your spiritual armor to stand against the fiery spiritual darts of Satan for our time.

Isaiah 8:21 "And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward."

"Hardly bestead" means "as a hard case". When the people follow these one verse Charlies they will become a hard case, and hungry for the Word. When they see what they have been led into after they have given themselves over to Satan, they will curse their king, their church system and God for having allow it. When all the time it was because they were too lazy to go to God's Word for the truth. When Israel fell, they cursed everyone but themselves, when the cause of their trouble was their turning their backs on God, and seeking help and alliance with the Assyrians. The Assyrians became their friends just long enough to learn how to destroy Israel, then they turned on Israel.

The Assyrian of the end times is Satan and he will also appear to be your friend and the supplier of your needs until you are safely in his camp. Then when you worship him, he will destroy you just as the old Assyrians destroyed our forefathers, and scattered them to where they have lost their roots and identity with God.

What God says in His Word is what we should be learing and taught, and when you follow those instructions, God will bless you. Today the lack of teaching has caused most churches to become little more then a house of beggers. The tithe has lost it's meaning and the giving has become little more then the completion of a vow.

Isaiah 8:22 "And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness."

God is saying that if you keep on playing around with His Word and refuse to put it away in your mind, He is going to take away what little light that you have. God has given us his word, and for us to expect His blessings to be given to us He expects His children to be obedient to it. If you refuse to study to know the truth, then God will close it to you and blind your spiritual eyes so that you will believe a lie when you hear it.

When you study His Word, pray for the understanding that He will allow you to see the truth of the writing, and understand it's application to your life. Pray that you can see the types that are given, and understand the deeper levels which is how you mature in the Word.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals. We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a White Horse)
political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse)
economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse)
and teaching of our schools and media, (The Man on a Pale Horse)