(Part 1 of a 2 part study which seeks to refute the notion that the glories spoken of in this chapter refer to the ‘church’ and not to those clearly identified by the Lord in the chapter as the nation of Israel)
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee,” Isaiah 60:1.
I recently read with joy Isaiah chapter 60 as part of my daily Bible reading, though I confess that the notes at the beginning of the chapter in my Bible added by men, I found disconcerting and vexing to say the least. These notes are very common in most copies of the Authorised Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
The notes summarise the contents of Isaiah chapter 60 in the following fashion:
1. The glorious access of the Gentiles into the church. 15 The blessings of the church after affliction.
These notes are very misleading. They are just plain wrong! That is because they are written by men who held to an understanding of prophecy which is called ‘A-Millennialism’ or another view, ‘Post-Millennialism’.
Such are erroneous interpretations of Bible prophecy and the headings these spurious opinions have spawned and which appear at the beginning of Old Testament chapters dealing with end-time prophecy, are very wrong and are the cause of much error being believed by the readers of God’s Word.
Here is an example from the comments of a great Bible commentator, Dr John Gill.
“INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 60
As, in the two preceding chapters, the hypocrisy and formality, the profaneness and immorality, that should abound in the latter day, and even among professors of religion, are prophesied of; so, in this, a very ample account is given of latter daylight and glory; of both the spiritual and personal reign of Christ, with the latter of which it concludes. The light and glory of the church, in the spiritual reign, are described, #Isa 60:1-3 the numerous conversions of persons to it from all quarters, east and west particularly, are prophesied of, #Isa 60:4-8, the great usefulness those should be of unto it, in enriching it, and building it up, and in glorifying it, is declared, #Isa 60:9-13, as also the subjection of enemies to it; the favours it should receive from kings, and the fame and renown of it through all nations and ages, #Isa 60:14-16, its riches, prosperity, peace, and safety, #Isa 60:17,18 and the chapter is concluded with an account of the more perfect state of the church in the personal reign of Christ, when there will be a perfection of light and righteousness; and the number of God’s elect will be complete, and they will be all together, #Isa 60:19-22.”
Note that he speaks of the ‘church’ when the prophet is referring to Israel, as I hope to show you.
I value greatly his general Bible comments but must reject His views on eschatology for they sadly are very wrong. His views are but what was altogether common for many centuries amongst the best of men. However, I believe that God in His sovereign mercy drew many back to a true understanding of the Bible’s teaching about the return of Christ and its aftermath in the middle of the 19th century, though there was always a remnant who clung to a right understanding of the Bible’s teaching on eschatology, that is a post-tribulation, pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus. It is the teaching set forth by the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony, whose website (www.sgat.org) provides many articles and sermon recordings and publications on this wonderful subject.
Rev Brian McClung’s sermon on the views of the early ‘church fathers’ demonstrates that A-Millennialism and Post-Millennialism were later inventions of men. (Read it here). Also his article on the views of the men who drew up the Westminster Confession of Faith is very helpful and informative. (Read it here)
NOT ALL HEADINGS ARE ERRONEOUS
Now, not all the headings at the beginning of Bible chapters are erroneous. The headings at the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis chapter 1 for instance, are very helpful for anyone coming to the Bible for the first time. But those headings that are tied to prophecies of Israel in the latter-days are sadly anything but helpful, rather they plant the seeds of a false view of what the Lord says about the future times at the end of this age.
I wish to have a look at this chapter and I hope to be able to show that it does not deal with ‘the church’, but rather it deals with God’s ancient people, the nation of ISRAEL and the Lord’s future purpose regarding their conversion and the restoration of them to their position of being the premier nation on the earth. (more…)
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun,” Ecclesiastes 1:9.