God called the prophets to an intimidating task, namely, to call out the sins of those who had the power to have them killed. If you were Isaiah or Ezekiel, what would motivate you to carry out your mission in the face of such danger? A vision of something far more terrifying than a human king would do the trick. That's what Isaiah saw. Here is a link to the "Holiness of God" series by R.C. Sproul that I mentioned: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/holiness-of-god
Jun 16, 2022•39 min
In today's study, we look at Uzziah's long reign as king of Jerusalem. He was a strong, prosperous king, yet his success led to a prideful downfall. His story is part of the backdrop of Isaiah's prophetic ministry.
Jun 15, 2022•30 min
As we saw yesterday, Isaiah warned the Jews of their coming destruction by means of a parable. They were God's vineyard which had been given every advantage for great fruitfulness, but instead produced "stink fruit." Jesus uses the same illustration to warn the Jews of His day of their coming destruction in AD70.
Jun 14, 2022•30 min
The Jews were set up for success by God Himself, yet they squandered His blessings and turned them into means of perverse partying, greed, and violence. It makes the thinking person reflect on nations today.
Jun 13, 2022•35 min
On the heels of wrathful warnings against Jewish pride, Isaiah sees beauty, glory, and redemption, all of it happening "in that day." What day? And what does it mean for Christians today? We discuss in today's study.
Jun 10, 2022•38 min
When a society is corrupted, it teaches its girls to think and act corruptly. God called out and condemned the "daughters of Zion" for acting in much the same was as American women think and act today. Will our end be the same as theirs?
Jun 09, 2022•33 min
What does it look like when God punishes a nation for rank perversion, violence, and idolatry? It looks what He did to Jerusalem: corrupt governors, anarchy, and food shortage. What should we do about it?
Jun 08, 2022•36 min
As the Jews prospered, they did what most nations do: they trusted in their wealth, wisdom, and military power. They took pride in their tolerance of new or formerly taboo ideas. And they gave glory to false gods. All of this provoked the terrifying wrath of God. They can't say they weren't warned.
Jun 07, 2022•34 min
If Isaiah 2:1-3 envisions the gospel spreading to the nations from Jerusalem (see previous episodes in this series), then 2:4 predicts that wars will cease as the gospel overcomes false ideologies. Will this happen in our day? Here is the series I mentioned addressing marxism, critical race theory, social justice, etc.: Understanding the Times
Jun 06, 2022•36 min
When Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), He knew it would be successful because Isaiah had foreseen its success centuries earlier. In today's study, we look at Isaiah's vision and its fulfillment in Christ.
Jun 03, 2022•40 min
Isaiah saw the triumph of the Lord over all other gods, with nations and peoples seeking to learn from Him. This would happen in the "last days." But when were/are the last days, and what happens during them?
Jun 02, 2022•30 min
Sometimes we wonder whether God pays attention to exploitive, wicked, abusive national leaders. He does. Jerusalem is an appropriate example. God forewarned the unfaithful city that she would suffer the just consequences of her wickedness. And yet, redemption was also part of the story.
Jun 01, 2022•31 min
The prophet Isaiah saw a devastating vision of God's destruction of Jerusalem years before it happened. He warned the people that their religious rituals were meaningless when not an expression of faithful obedience. God's people today should take note.
May 31, 2022•29 min
When God indicted Judah, not only did He have overwhelming current evidence, He had centuries of wicked deeds which attested to their rebellion. Moreover, He had foretold of their idolatry at the very beginning; He even put it to music for them to sing. They did it anyway.
May 27, 2022•35 min
Before he died, Moses laid out the next 1,000 years of Jewish history. It would turn out just as he predicted. As proof, he called three witnesses to testify to their upcoming wickedness. In Isaiah's opening vision, God calls upon these witnesses like a prosecuting attorney to convict His rebellious people.
May 26, 2022•31 min
The Apostle Peter provides interesting details about what Isaiah (and other prophets) knew about their prophecies. It changes the way we read and interpret these rich OT books.
May 25, 2022•31 min
Isaiah served as a prophet for over 50 years. During that time, he witnessed the rise and fall of several Jewish kings. As the king went, so went the nation. In today's study, we establish the historical setting for this wonderful OT book.
May 24, 2022•36 min
Today, we begin a study of Isaiah by exploring the keys to understanding his glorious and mysterious visions.
May 23, 2022•42 min
Today, we wrap up our Q&A on Israel, Jesus' return, and AD70 (unless, of course, you insist on more).
May 13, 2022•36 min
Today, we continue studying the Olivet Discourse and Jesus' words about the coming of the Son of Man. Was it all fulfilled in AD70?
May 12, 2022•42 min
Our study of Romans 9-11 led to the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. Today, we answer some of the questions raised as we looked at those passages.
May 11, 2022•42 min
The Apostle Paul revealed that God blinded the eyes of the Jews so that they couldn't see Jesus as Messiah. It was a punitive blinding, a judicial "hardening." But are they still under God's curse? And, as was raised in the chat, how should we interpret the Holocaust in light of Romans 11?
May 10, 2022•41 min
God's plan for redemption was never intended exclusively for the Jews. The nations (Gentiles) were part of His vision from the beginning. Knowing this helps explain what Paul means by "the fulness of the Gentiles has come in" (Rom. 11:25).
May 09, 2022•35 min
Today, we continue considering how Romans 11 ("fulness of the Gentiles has come in") interacts with Matthew 24/Luke 21/Mark 13 and OT predictions of the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD.
May 06, 2022•39 min
Does Romans 11 teach that a large number of Jews will be converted to Christ just before His second coming? Maybe, but I'm not convinced. Watch today's study to see if I can persuade you otherwise.
May 05, 2022•38 min
In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul reveals that Israel was under God's judicial hardening "until the fulness of the nations has come in." What is that and when will (did?) it happen? In today's study, we look at two of Daniel's prophecies to help us answer those questions.
May 04, 2022•38 min
In Romans 11:25, the Apostle Paul says that Israel will be hardened until the "fullness of the Gentiles has come in." Jesus used an almost identical phrase in Luke 21. In today's study, we compare those passages with OT prophecies to see if we can put the pieces together to determine when Israel's hardening will be over.
May 03, 2022•40 min
Today we continue to consider how Israel's hardening and redemption in the first century correlate to Daniel's prophecy and Jesus' prediction of the fall of Jerusalem.
May 02, 2022•41 min
In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 27, a passage predicting the destruction of the temple. How does that tie in with the "partial hardening of Israel" and the "fullness of the Gentiles"? Matthew 24 and Daniel 9 give us a clue. We talk about that in today's study.
Apr 29, 2022•34 min
When we see a phrase like "take away sins," we tend to assume it refers to something like finding forgiveness in the cross of Christ. But that's not the only means of atoning for sin, as we will see in today's study.
Apr 28, 2022•39 min
