Years ago in Book about “Revival” I recall reading a Sermon using Isaiah 64:1 as its Text. These words comprise a prayer to God: “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.”

As in: “Lord, we need Thee. Please come and help us. Only Thy Presence could ever meet the needs (right the wrongs) in this old sinful world. Thou art our Salvation.”

In our Text today … the verb “wouldest rend” is spelled “qara” in Hebrew, meaning “to tear in pieces.” It can also mean “to make (something) wide or large.” Or “to split asunder!”

The verb “come down” is self-explanatory. “Yarad” means “to descend.” (God did descend one Day, literally, at the Incarnation! Jesus is God “come down” to us!)

Come to think of it, God did “rend the heavens” once as well! When Jesus was baptized! “And straightway coming up out of the water, he (Jesus) saw the heavens opened (the Greek verb schizo, our word “schism,” meaning ‘to tear open’), and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him.”

Wow!

This is Revival, no doubt!

But our verse today, Isaiah 64:1, does NOT directly point to either of the two Jesus Events just described, not precisely. It looks yet further ahead to the Second Coming of Jesus to earth!

I mean “Revelation 19:11” ahead …

John there wrote: “And I saw heaven opened (like a door), and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him (JESUS) was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

Jesus, returning to defeat the anti-Christ and the hordes of ungodly people who worship him! Jew haters, every single one!

And then literally, the Old Testament teaches us … when Jesus’ Feet touch earth … “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives SHALL CLEAVE in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” Zechariah 14:4

Yes, the earth will be rearranged when Jesus comes again!

Truthfully … “the mountains will flow at His Presence!” Just like our Text insinuates, promises.

And mark this … when Jesus comes again … TRUE (WORLD-WIDE, GENUINE) REVIVAL WILL HAVE ARRIVED!

Isaiah’s prayer of long ago will have been answered.

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I more and more see why godly people long for that Return, for that Revelation of our dear Lord. And why the Bible closes (Revelation 22:20 with this prayer: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

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As I read our chapter earlier today, this verse stood out so clearly. This is Israel talking, in the last days, the coming days of great Tribulation I suspect …

“Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.” She is praying here in Isaiah 63:16. At one of her lowest points in all her history!

Look!

She feels she has been torn from her roots! “Father Abraham no longer knows us.” (“Though Abraham be ignorant of us.”) Her heritage is shattered, or at least shattering, she believes. (Her history has been rewritten. A perversion today called “revisionism.” It is happening in America every week, too. They are indeed trying to rob us of our history!)

Israel is also lamenting the fact that her very own people are no longer loyal to her! “Though Israel acknowledge us not.” I am told that in Israel today so many Jewish people despise their own government! And many seem to be against the very preservation (and defense) of the Homeland! And in the United States, some of the most liberal of all politicians and entertainers and Judges (etc.) are ultra liberal, pro PLO, anti-Semitic advocates! Yes, this battle is spiritual, not just intellectual or philosophical, demonic forces are evident!

Things look extremely dark for Israel, in our Text verse today! Again: “Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.”

Wow!

But … though everything human and even familiar seems to be AGAINST her … she has finally realized GOD IS FOR HER!

“Doubtless thou art our father.”

Astounding!

But more than just Father, great as that Relationship is!

“O LORD, art our father, our REDEEMER; thy name is from everlasting.” Redeemer too! This is Salvation, Jesus, Eternal Life … Israel being born again!

And even more good news … God as Father and Redeemer WILL NEVER CHANGE! “Thy Name is from everlasting!”

Amazing! One might even say “eternally secure!”

Folks, there is a verse David penned that “fits” this Text precisely, amplifies and illustrates it so very well! “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” Psalm 27:10

Wow, the LORD Who never fails! !

Israel … finally, trusting Jesus!

THAT DAY WILL COME!

God’s Word is sure.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I am glad to be a Christian!

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Isaiah 63 begins with these words, with two questions. : “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?” (Verses 1 and 2)

Then immediately, these questions are answered. In the First Person, nonetheless!

“I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.” (Verses 3 and 4)

I believe (as do most of the conservative Bible Expositors I have consulted) that this Passage is talking about Jesus! At His literal Second Coming to earth. That Jesus, via the miracle of Bible Prophecy, is speaking!

Jesus, when He “interrupts” the Battle of Armageddon and defeats the Jews’ final enemy/enemies (Satan and anti-Christ and a company of wicked nations). When He returns to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) and overwhelms the anti-Semitic nations that surround His people, the Israelites.

His “garments” are soaked in “red,” the blood of the slain! (Blood will flow pretty deeply that Day! See Revelation 14:10, to the “horses’ bridles.”)

He, our Lord, is here “glorious,” in Hebrew “hadar,” meaning “honourable!”

He is also “strong,” in Hebrew “koach,” meaning “firm, mighty.”

In a word picture, Jesus has vigorously “tread the grapes” of God’s Wrath, juice (blood-red) flowing everywhere!

But after considering those two opening questions … THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF RESPONDS, ANSWERS! (Making this Text similar to Psalm 24, another Poem of Victory! An “antiphonal” Poem!)

“I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.” Verse 3, Jesus in righteous, holy Anger!

“His vesture dipped in blood,” Revelation 19:13

No doubt this is the “day of the vengeance of our God,” previously mentioned in Isaiah 61:2.

Verse 4 immediately adds, in proof: “For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”

It’s time to “deliver, saved” Israel!

To deal with her congregated enemies!

We have long seen Jesus the Saviour!

Now meet Jesus the Warrior!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Israel’s true, final DAY OF ATONMENT!

The Lord willing, more tomorrow.

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It is (to me) perhaps the greatest chapter I’ve ever read on God’s future blessings upon Israel! Yes, Isaiah 62, all its 12 verses.

Including the ending lines: “Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” Verses 11 and 12, King James Version.

The whole world is going to know of this coming Event!

The “Salvation” (meaning “deliverance, rescue, safety, prosperity, victory”) is in Hebrew spelled “yesha.” Which is the very Root for the name JESUS! God the Son, come to earth once to die (and be raised from the dead) … but yet to come to earth again (and offer salvation to Israel and reign over her in Jerusalem for a thousand years!)

Notice Isaiah calls this coming “Salvation” a Person … “His reward is with Him!” That’s Jesus, Salvation personified! He Himself, truthfully, IS the Reward! But the victory He brings, the peace, the blessings … reward aplenty!

But His “Work?” Isaiah teaches us: “His Work is before Him!” Much to do … like defeating the anti-Christ and overthrowing wickedness and establishing righteousness world-wide! Redeeming creation from its Adamic curse, helping “the wolf lie down with the lamb,” so to speak!

Wow!

After this “saving Work” is done … the whole world will call Israel … “The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD.”

No longer a stubborn, rebellious people!

No more “Ahabs” and “Jezebels” leading her!

Jesus on the Throne!

Israel, “redeemed!” (The expression is derived from the Hebrew “Goel,” her True Kinsman Redeemer having come!)

But there’s even more: “and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” No longer will humanity spurn Israel. Or mock or attack her! She shall be “sought out!” No longer will traitors “turn” on her!

And, due to her newly found (imputed) righteousness (via the Cross of Calvary, the Blood of Jesus) even God will no longer have to chasten, judge her!

Never again “forsaken!”

Amazing!

Yet still, in the midst of all this “good news” … a individual Jew who is alive today and who dies without Jesus … will go straight to Hell. (As will lost Gentiles!)

THEY are among the precious souls who need to hear the Gospel! We should be burdened to reach THEM for Jesus!

Paul certainly was. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ISRAEL is, that they might be saved.” Romans 10:1

Even to this extent: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for MY BRETHREN, MY KINSMEN according to the flesh.” Romans 9:1-3, an ongoing burden to see those dear children of Abraham saved!

Back to how I began today’s Lesson … Isaiah 62, One of the greatest chapters in all God’s Word about the multitudinous future blessings He plans for Israel, for His “chosen people,” for “the apple of His Eye!”

God save Israel!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Again in today’s Lesson/Text … God (through His Prophet Isaiah) is speaking to Israel:

“Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Isaiah 62:4-5

“Forsaken” and “desolate,” what bleak adjectives. Yet they accurately describe Israel’s history for many a year.

But, because of Calvary, because of God’s deep Love for those people we call the Jews … soon they will be called “Hephzibah” (meaning “a delight”) and their land will be known as “Beulah” (meaning “married”) … what a reversal of circumstances!

God is excited about Israel’s “conversion!”

As we shall soon see, Isaiah 66:8 pictures the Salvation Event coming to Israel some day. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? OR SHALL A NATION BE BORN AT ONCE? for as soon as Zion travailed (came under Holy Ghost conviction), she brought forth her children.”

Wow, the equivalent of the “New Birth,” in New Testament language! “In one Day” as well! The Day Jesus comes again to earth, His Second Coming, riding that that white horse of victory so well described in Revelation chapter 19.

But just HOW EXCITED is God?

Verse 5 of our Text tells us: “For as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Wedding language! Depicting one of the happiest days of any young man’s life!

Makes me think: God wants sinners saved far more than any sinner ever wanted to be saved! As in “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, maybe the best known verse in all the Bible.

One more note, the first clause of verse 5 above … “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee.” This implies that Israel has many sons who have turned away from her. Have been ashamed of their heritage. Many so-called Jews in America today (liberals, especially politicians it seems) appear to “hate” the little nation of Israel! And the current Prime Minister of Israel (as I write this anyway) is hated by multitudes in that fair Land!

BUT THIS SAD CONDITION TOO IS GOING TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE, IN THE MILLENNIUM! When all Israel’s progeny (her sons) will “marry” their homeland. Will again be sympathetic (fall in love) with Israel!

Oh Lord, Thy Will be done!

As I said in the Lesson’s title … “and the good news just keeps coming” .. for saved Israel!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Truly, Hallelujah!

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