Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For a
child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will
rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Eternal
Father, Prince of Peace.
7
There will be no end to
the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and
over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and
righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of
hosts will accomplish this.
¯ There are many amazing passages in the Bible that
we could have chosen for our Christmas message... I
have chosen this exciting text... purposefully.
U I chose it because in it we have such clear
references to the two advents of Messiah!
His miraculous 1st coming is
proclaimed... in the first half of verse six...
Then we have...
E The punctuation mark (, :
;)... inserted at this point in the text...
It represents a prophetic
pause... what is technically called a prophetic
parenthesis...
— A concept that is critical for
understanding Bible prophecy!
It stands as representing a Gap in time... Between the fulfillment of the promise of the
1st part of verse six and the rest of the
text!
A That pause... as we
know... has lasted now... nearly 2,000 yrs. and still counting...
è The entire period of time that will pass between the
fulfillment of the 1st part of the prophecy and the rest
of it is known as the “Interregnum”...
Meaning “the time between reining”...
Ê It is defined as the time period during
which a throne is vacant... between two successive reigns or regimes...
Christ is and was
truly King of Israel
The
Interregnum... Is the time
between the 1st coming of Christ... with His rejection as King of Israel
R His 2nd coming is described
in the rest of the passage... and is
yet
to be fulfilled...
It describes... His Kingly heredity... and the promise
of His eternal rule and reign...
Y The passage also reveals and describes His divine
attributes,
actions and character... Beautifully!
L I realize that modern Jewish commentators... who
consider themselves to be more proficient than Christian
scholars in interpreting Hebrew, their mother language......
A Universally deny that
this passage... or indeed any passage in the book of Isaiah... has anything
to do with Christ or with Christmas... Sadly...
Ü But my friends... I want to make you aware of the
fact... if you do not already know...
9 That this denial of the clear
Messianic references in the book of Isaiah...
E And particularly here in chapter
nine... has not always been the case...
among Jewish experts... especially
when considering that the book is over 2,700 yrs. old!
Pre Christian era
writings of Jewish sages contain no such anti Messianic bias...
Y Quite the contrary... This passage was universally
recognized as Messianic prophecy...
A Prior to the rejection of
Christ at His 1st coming by the ruling Jewish authorities...
— Let me cite one respected source to back up this
point...
3 In John
Wesley’s Explanatory Notes: on Is.9 ...
he offers this revealing commentary...
Describing the prevailing opinion of Hebrew scholars as to the
person in view in the text.
è Wesley writes... “A child — The Messiah by the consent of interpreters,
not only Christian, but Jewish: for
so the ancient Hebrew doctors
understood the place, and particularly the Chaldee paraphrast; although the latter
Jews, out of opposition to Christ, wrest it to
Hezekiah. Which extravagant conceit, as it hath no foundation in this or any
other text of scripture, so it is fully confuted by the following
titles, which are such as cannot without blasphemy and nonsense
be ascribed to Hezekiah, nor indeed to any mere mortal man, as we shall see.”
9 Close quote... hopefully.... we shall see indeed as we
continue our study now!
V Christian scholars have always understood and
promoted the understanding...
A That this amazing passage
is a prophecy concerning the two advents of Messiah...
It has only been in reaction against the Christian
position that the Jewish commentators have taken the anti-Messianic, anti-supernatural
position... Promoting the idea...
Ê That this text refers to
Hezekiah... The son of the reigning king at the time...Hezekiah, by the way was
already nine years old at the time of the writing of this passage...
’ Making the idea all the
more absurd and incredulous!
Y But, even so... God has promised that a time is
coming when the veil of ignorance
and unbelief will be removed from Israel
Ø 2
Cor.3:12-16 – Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our
speech,
13 and are not like Moses, who
used to put a veil over his face so
that the sons of Israel
14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at
the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is
removed in Christ.
15 But to this day whenever Moses
is read, a veil lies over their
heart;
Ø Ro.11:25-27
– For I do not want you,
brethren, to be uninformed of this
mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial
hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has
come in;
26
and so all Israel
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
27
“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH
THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
è My fervent prayer today is that the veil of
ignorance and unbelief would be removed from
before every face... not only from
before Jewish faces but also from gentile faces! Including some confused Christians!
6 For a child will be born to us,
Such a simple statement and yet it contains such profound
implications!
â What we have here... as we
will see developed through the rest of the passage is...
& Nothing less than the revelation of the
promised incarnation of the God
/man!
ÿ The human birth of our Mighty God... the Prince of Peace !
˜ The birth of this
child... is speaking directly and specifically of Christmas day!
It harkens directly back to the previous prophecy of the virgin
birth given in Is.7:14 ...
Ò Which proclaims the coming
of God... into the world... appearing in human flesh...
Ø Is.7:14
– “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a
virgin will be with child and bear a son,
and she will call His name Immanuel.
This is the incarnation of Jesus Christ... the
birth of the Christ child!
He was born a baby
and he grew and matured like all human children do over time.
§ Scripture makes sure that we understand that this child... this Son... was a human
child ... and the man that
He became... was fully human in every way... yet without sin...
† As we see explained for
us clearly...
in the book of Hebrews...
Ø Heb.2:14-18
– Therefore, since the children share in flesh and
blood, He Himself likewise also
partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who
had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and might free those
who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16
For assuredly He does not give help to angels,
but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all
things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For since He Himself
was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of
those who are tempted.
Ü Many prophecies concerning the gender
of the promised child were specifically given... from the very first
mention of the coming Messiah...
and consistently throughout all of scripture!
— The first mention was in the Garden of Eden! God said to the serpent...
Ø Gen.3:15
– And I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.”
Y King David
was promised that a descendent of his... would be his “Greater Son”... And that God would also call Him Son... and He would rule over an eternal kingdom...
Ø 2
Sam.7:12-14 – 14 “I will be a Father to
Him and He will be a Son to Me...”
E
Joseph was told that his virgin wife would bear a Son... and that the boy would be the Son of God... conceived of the Holy
Spirit!
Ø Mt.1:19-23
– 20 an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to
take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 “She will bear a Son;
and you shall call His name Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sins.”
˜ The angel prophesied to Mary concerning her child... she was told that her baby would be a boy child... and that He would reign on
the throne
of David forever!
Ø Lk.1:31-33 – “And
behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him
Jesus.
32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most
High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
6 Given to us
– Jesus Christ was given as God’s gift to the world... He was given... in love... By the Father in
heaven... for the salvation of mankind! God gave His Son!
ØJn.4:10
– Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says
to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given
you living water.”
E And so we have the
wonderful promise of Jesus’ first
coming in these opening words!
ü And we know that this promise was fulfilled on that 1st
Christmas day!
è We now come to the description and
prophecy of His future second
coming...
˜ Along with the revelation of His divine nature... and His
amazing accomplishments!
â The final and perfect government is what is in view here... this
of course... as I said... is still future to our day... to say
otherwise... as some do... is foolish!
L Currently... the evil one is ruler of this world. That, I think should be obvious!
E Jesus said so!
Ø Jn.14:30
– “The ruler of
the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”
è John said so even after the crucifixion,
resurrection and ascention of Christ!
Ø 1 Jn.1:19
– the whole world lies in the
power of the evil one.
r But... the
rule of the Devil is a limited time engagement!
E It will soon be put to an
end! As all the prophets attest!
V Soon the rightful ruler will take up His throne!
Ø Micah
5:2 – “But
as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah , From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel
He came into the
world from out of eternity at His 1st coming! And He will come
again this time from out of heaven to rule and reign... forever!
We have God’s word on it... His promise on these things!
¯ But Christs’ rule will go far beyond just the
re-gathered nation and peoples of Israel
9 He will take up His rule over all of creation...
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
E When He comes to rule...
He will bear the ensign of the supreme King on His robe!
On His shoulder...
Ø Rev.19:16 – And on
His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS.”
V Only the shoulders of Jesus Christ are broad
enough and strong enough to carry the weight of governing of the entire universe!
That is what this verse is ultimately saying!
Ø Phil.2:10 – at the name of Jesus
EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Ø Eph.1:21
– Jesus Christ is... far above all rule and authority
and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but
also in the one to come.
6 And His name will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
— This is actually one
name, one title, one description of who and what... this promised Ruler...
this Son will be... and what
He will accomplish!
Ê It is one name with four components... four elements of a compound name...
1. Wonderful
Counselor, Pele-yowetz
He is both Wonderful and He is Counselor...Some
take these attributes separately.. but in the context of the following three
couplets they should probably be taken together as one.
Ø Is.2:3
– And many peoples will
come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the
house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach
us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.”
For the
law will go forth from Zion And the word of
the LORD from Jerusalem
Ò The wisdom of the counsel of Messiah is wonderful beyond measure...
Y Far greater than even Solomon... or any counselor
ever known!
Ø Is.28:29
– This also comes from the
LORD of hosts, Who has made His
counsel wonderful and His
wisdom great.
Ø Is.11:2 – The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The
spirit of wisdom and understanding, The
spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the
LORD.
¯ This Wonderful
Counselor is also the...
2. Mighty God,
- “God - the Mighty One” -’El Gibbôr...
It has been translated... The Mighty God – man...
Ø Jer.32:18
– The LORD God... who shows lovingkindness to
thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children
after them, O great and mighty God.
The LORD of hosts is His name;
Ø Ps.24:8
– Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and Mighty,
The LORD Mighty in battle!
~ He is our Mighty
God! Next Isaiah describes Him with
the title...
3. Eternal Father, - Ab-iad – more correctly translated... Father of Eternity... or...
The Father of the future age... or... The Father of the everlasting age...
At first glance this title can cause confusion in the mind
of the New Testament believer...
Surely Jesus and the Father are two distinct Persons in the
Holy Trinity... and so they are.
ABut the attribute of Fatherhood in view here is of a different
emphasis than that of the Father of the only begotten Son...
It is on the work of Christ as Creator
and Redeemer.
˜ Jesus is the progenitor
of all of creation... including eternity
future!
Ê In this sense He is the Father of Eternity...
Ø John
1:3 – All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing
came into being that has come into being.
ââ So He is the Author of creation... but He is also
the Author and perfecter of our
faith... the source of our salvation!
Heb.12:2
V In a very special sense Jesus is the Father of all believers; we are
called His children,
Ø Hebrews
2:13 – "Behold, I and THE
CHILDREN whom GOD has GIVEN ME."
Ø Is.53:10
– But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, (His children)
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, (His children)
He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the
LORD will prosper in His hand.
è Christ is the second
Adam... As such He is the Father of
a new generation... a new race of mankind! He is the Father of eternity... and He is the Author of eternal life!
R He is the Wellspring
of eternity... the source from which eternity comes!
E Not only is He is the Creator of... space, time and matter...
He is also the Sustainer of all
things... He will provide for and protect His children... the redeemed... for
all eternity!
This eternal provision and
protection is another implied aspect of Eternal Fatherhood...
He eternally takes care of His family... as the
head of the family! So much in this title!
ÿ And finally... the prophet tells us that He is the...
4. Prince of Peace. - Sar Shalom
Ø Jn.16:33
– “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may
have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have
overcome the world.”
Ø Gen.49:10
– “The scepter shall not depart from Judah , Nor the ruler’s staff from between
his feet, Until Shiloh
comes, And to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
He is The Messiah...
Ø Hos.2:18
– “In that day I will also
make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, The birds of
the sky, And the creeping things of the ground And I will abolish the
bow, the sword and war from the land, And will make them lie down in
safety.
7
There will be no end to
the increase of His government or of
peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
V
This is the Christ... the promised greater Son of David... heir to the eternal kingdom...
~ Promised to come from Eve... to crush the head
of the serpent... He was promised to Abraham as his Blessed Seed... that
would be a blessing to all nations!
˜ This is the boy
that was promised to Mary... He was
promised to the nation of Israel
þ He was promised to the
world! God always keeps His promises...
literally !
7
To establish it and to uphold it
with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
Y God’s Kingdom will be established on earth with justice and righteousness...
And when it comes... it will be without end!
¯ Nothing like it has ever been seen on earth
thus far... but it is coming... and when it comes... there
will be no doubt about it... all debate and misinformation will be
over!
L All of the foolish speculations... and allegorical
theories will end...
è Christ will appear literally... physically...
in
person... in the flesh... the second time...
û But this time with no reference to sin... as
we are told in Heb.9:28...
— Friends... Today is the day of salvation...
Today is the day to take care of your sin!
¯ If you have not yet received Jesus as your personal
Savior don’t put it off another day!
Ò Ask Him to forgive
your sins right now! Receive
the gift of God on this special
day!
~ The day of grace... the Church age... The parenthetic
Gap that we spoke about... will suddenly come to an end without
warning... like a thief in the night!
+ The world will be plunged into Great Tribulation... so devastating...
that all flesh will be in danger of annihilation! Then...
Jesus will come!
• When He comes this time... He will
take up His reign... He will put down all rebellion...whoever is not redeemed
by grace through faith in God’s Son... will perish!
At that time... Jesus will fulfill the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy...
and all remaining promises and prophecies concerning His second advent!
7
The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will accomplish this.
˜ This is the
promise of Christmas!
V This is the blessed hope that we have in Christ!
ü His 1st coming is accomplished...
It is
history...
˜ The wonderful child
was born
to us... the Son was given
to us!
â In God’s perfect
timing... the rest of Isaih
9:6+7... Will be accomplished...
Just as faithfully and exactly as the first!
¯ Soon we will behold our lovely King Jesus...
† The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Soon...
His Kingdom will come... His will... will
be done... it will be on
earth as it is in heaven!
— Do not doubt it!
Do not be troubled! The
Lord has come and He is coming again
è
The zeal of the LORD shall
accomplish it! Merry Christmas!
