Chapter 2

2021 - Just reading straight through this.  Running out of time.

but...look at vss 2-4!  The Millennial again!  Even uses the term "latter days".

Everything between the ***'s is from 2024.

***

2024 - Here is verse 2:

2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, [Isa 2:2 ESV].

"It shall come to pass..." is a sequential perfect.  Here is the BLB explanation of that type of verb (things are just getting more and more complicated...I'm bogging down badly):

A Sequential Perfect verb often expresses the same kinds of action as the Imperfect conjugation, but it also connects to an earlier verb to form either a sequence of time or a sequence of thought. However, in Biblical Hebrew a Sequential Perfect verb has an additional and unique potential to express the same kind of action as the verb immediately preceding it.

This seems to be what we are looking for.  So the question to ask here is what was the earlier verb to which this one connects IN SEQUENCE.  Hmm...if we read that last part, it says the sequential perfect does not always mean it is about a sequence of time or thought, but CAN be a continuation f the same kind of action.  It seems to me that context ought to be pretty clear when it is about the same kind of action as the previous verb as opposed to time or thought. 

BUT, what was the "earlier verb" in this case?  How far back to we look?  Well, the only verb previous to this one is back in vs 1, and is "Isaiah...saw".  So the sequential in this case is telling us that this "coming to pass" is a continuation of what Isaiah saw in his vision.  It just means this is a continuation of that previous time/thought.  We know this is a part of the vision that Isaiah saw, and not something "new" that is being discussed.  That makes good sense.  That is progress!

We also see a sequential perfect at the end of the verse in the phrase "will stream".  This is exactly what we have been looking for!  What this says is that sequential in time to the mountain being established and raised, all nations WILL STREAM to it.  This tells us that a sequence is being described, not a bunch of things all happening at once, nor a bunch of things that will happen randomly during "the last days".  These things will unfold in order - First, the mountain of the Lord will be established and raised (raised is a participle, a verbal adjective, adding to the description of established) and then sequentially, all nations will stream to it.

Wow.  This works.  There is so much additional detail here to unravel if you understand how these things work.  How very rich is the Hebrew language!  The more I see of things like this, the more pathetic seems the English language.  We can't do any of this.  Imagine the mind of those who can write so expressively in Hebrew, and tell us so much in so few words!

But...how much time each day will it take to unravel things?  I have spent well over an hour already on Chapter 1 and the first 2 verses of chapter 2.  I am going to have to pick my battles.  So.  Moving on...

Well...just one more note.  In the first part of vs 3, many peoples "will come".  Will come is another sequential perfect, telling us that this is a continuation of the nations streaming...or ties all the way back to the establishing of the mountain.  Perhaps this is another thing that happens subsequent to that mountain being established.

In vs 4, he will judge is a sequential perfect, STILL TYING US BACK to that establishment of the mountain of the Lord.

Oh my...this DOES work! 

Look at 4 in light of how we now understand these verbs!!!!

4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. [Isa 2:4 ESV].

All of this happens AFTER the events in vs 2.  Well what was that?  Zion rises to the top of the nations.  ALL nations will look to her and AFTER THAT, ONLY AFTER, making the events described at least down through vs 4, things that happen AFTER Zion rises.  None of these things are happening today. 

When will the swords be turned to plowshares?  AFTER Zion - and I think quite obviously that means in the Millennial reign - is the seat of world government!!!  AFTER ALL NATIONS COME TO HER.  Clearly this has NEVER EVER happened, but it will.  This is about worldwide peace among all nations, enforced from Zion, as seat of world government.  Now who could possibly ever bring that about but God himself, with Jesus on the throne of the planet.  I don't think this is about the New Jerusalem, I think it is about the Millennial. 

2024 - It's just too much.  I think an amazing insight into these prophecies would result from continuing to unravel these sequential verbs.  I think is one studied enough, the time of vss 12-22 could be nailed down as either Millennial or pre-Millennial.  And knowing when these things will be is important.

Something new happens beginning in vs 5.  There is a Qal perfect in vs 6.  Abandoned is the perfect.  So think about what this means...If you go look at the various translations, when it says "You have abandoned your people..." it is talking God abandoning Israel.  Now look at all the sequential imperfects after that, things like their land being filled with silver and gold, with horses and chariots, but also with idols...These things are results not of what Israel is doing but the result of God's abandonment.  As they were increasingly unfaithful to him, he abandoned them and these other things began to happen.  Material things distracted them from worship, and they turned to idols.  We might also imagine that God communicated with them, blessed them, less and less, and as they felt isolated from God they turned to idols. 

The lesson, looking at these perfects and then sequentials, tells us that it was God abandoning them that was leading to this increasing apostasy.  Israel was turning away, and entirely guilty for what they were doing...but God's abandonment was certainly amplifying their rebellion.   This continued to increase right up until God sent Assyria to take away the north, and then Babylon to take away the south.

Vs 7 has two sequentials, and they continue through vs 9.  All the verbs are sequential to God abandoning them in vs 6. 

Then in vs 10 there are two imperative verbs, the command of God to these people that he has abandoned because of their sins.  He warns them to enter the rocks and HIDE from His terror.  This concludes the indictments of vss 5-9 that described the ways in which Israel has abased itself.

AND THEN, in vs 11, we have two new Qal perfect verbs.  Following the terror of the Lord, the proud will be abased and humbled. 

"Will be exalted" is sequential to all that, as in the inhabitants of Israel will be knocked down into the dirt enough to prompt them once again to exalt God. 

Vs 12 starts yet another section.  The last phrase, "that he may be abased", is about those who dwell in Israel, and this is a sequential perfect.  I do not know what previous perfect it references.  The Hebrew is a little different h ere.  I would think the perfect would be the phrase "will have a day", but somehow, that phrase is included in the proper name Jehovah.  It almost seems that sense of this phrase as "perfect" is assumed because no other verb shows it.  There is this long sequence of prepositional phrases ending with two more sequential imperfects.  First, that men will be abased, and next that the Lord alone will be exalted at the end of all these things. 

All this, without going specifically into each verb, is, in my opinion, tied back to that "day of reckoning" in vs. 12.  Many of the translations day it this way - day or reckoning as opposed to say "day of wrath" or "on the last day" or even "in the last days".  The question to ask is whether this day of reckoning is talking about Assyria, Babylon, or the 70th week.  Given the end of vs 17, "...the Lord alone will be exalted in that day"...hmm.  I don't know.  Being walked off to Assyria with a chain around your neck as a slave would surely qualify as abasement, as reckoning...but is the Lord exalted at such a time, even in the minds of the captives?  Or does this seem more descriptive of the battle - the judgment - at the end of the 70th, just before Jesus sits on his earthly throne and begins the thousand year peace?  Those who opposed him before that battle will be abased...will be dead...will be discredited in every way.  And surely at that time Israel, just come to unchallenged world dominance, will exalt their God.  This seems most likely to me...but I'm not falling on my sword over it!

+++++

All this between the plusses in new in 2025, and AWESOME!!!

2025 - Worked again on this perfect then sequential perfect stuff.  It is very difficult.  So many verbs that are in the English are not even there in Hebrews.  Hebrews just kind of reuses the original over and over without actually putting it in again as we do in English.  I am questioning whether it is worth it for me to put so much time into this.  I think maybe trying to puzzle it out in those passages about immediate vs end times prophecy might be the only places I should take the time to look this closely into the verbs. It's tough to realize how much more might be buried in the Biblical Hebrew that we just cannot - CAN NOT except by luck - pull out in English.

2025 - And yet look at this passage!  From 2:12 we get that a day of reckoning is coming.  Against the proud and lofty.  This seems to be directed at Isaiah's immediate future.  Then this long list of who and what is in view to be "reckoned".  Geography, structures, ships.  And in that massive destruction, those proud and haughty men that were mentioned in vs 12 will be humbled and God alone will be exalted.  That could be at the end of a war.  Or at the recovery from a war. 

2025 - Then 18 presents a contrast between an exalted God and the idols men are worshiping.  This too seems to be about Isaiah's near future.  BUT THEN, vs 19 talks about men fleeing into holes in the ground - into caves - in their terror.  That is language very similar to what we see in these verses from Revelation:

  15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, ... 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" [Rev 6:15, 17 ESV].

2025 - So let's look. Do the verbs tell us that we have switched the time to which this vision applies between vs 18 and vs 19?

In 19, the first verb we come to is "will go".  And it is shown not as a perfect, but as a sequential imperfect, telling us we are continuing something from before.  The last verb before vs 19 was in 18, where it says "will vanish" talking about the idols.  This verb is an imperfect verb.  So...does that whole sequential perfect apply when the previous verb was imperfect?  Or do we keep going backwards?

All three verbs in 17 are sequential perfect, referring us backward.

The next previous verb is "be abased" all the way back in vs 12, and that verb is STILL a sequential perfect. 

Vs 11 has three verbs.  The first two are perfect, and the third seems to begin this series of sequential perfects.  The two are "will be abased" and "will be humbled".  The third verb in the verse is "will be exalted" and it is a sequential perfect, making sense that after the lofty and proud are brought down God will be exalted.

Here is one way to look at it.  We have that same phrase - "the Lord alone will be exalted" in vs 11 and again in 17.  We could see this as bookends around the day of reckoning immediately in Isaiah's future. The verbs support this interpretation because in 18, right after the ending bookend, we get a brand new verb.  It is imperfect to be sure, but it is the first non-sequential verb we've seen since the perfect back in 11.  I would interpret this then, as NOT a continuation of the sequence in 11-17.  18 begins something different, either a different action, a different time, or a different thought.

Is it a different action when the idols vanish?  Hard to be definitive.  The previous verses dealt with the reckoning as applied to people and places...things also if you count the ships.  But idols are a very different category than anything that went before. They are newly introduced but I do not see them as being added to the action already in progress. 

Different time?  Well here we have some solid ground.  As we look ahead we see that vs 19 is very very similar to Revelation at the opening of the Sixth Seal, a time NOT AT ALL in Isaiah's immediate future.  So I think we can make a very good case that the verb in 18 signals a different time. 

What about a different thought?  I think we can make a good case here also, but not as strong a case as the one for time.  If Isaiah is now talking about the far future instead of the near future, then the thought has changed.

So we have two strong interpretations both of which support a break in the time of fulfillment of the prophecy.  If we go with those, then Isa 2:11-17 are about Isaiah's immediate future, and vss 18-21 are about a different time, I believe during God's final wrath.

Does 22 help our case?  Sort of!  "Stop" is an imperative verb, and NOT another sequential!

So WOW!  This is exactly what I had hoped this might allow me to do.  I worry about interpretations that require us to break prophecies in the middle of a chapter and sometimes even in the middle of a verse, just because we "want" them to apply to different times.  Here is compelling evidence that Isaiah's prophecy in Chapter 2 REALLY IS about two different "day of the Lord" events.  One in his immediate future, and one in the last days. 

I would call this one really useful and compelling example of how this technique can be applied to discover whether we are talking about one prophecy or two!  Isaiah likely thought it was just one, but the guidance of the Spirit as to the actual words he wrote shows us today that it was two. 

And perhaps, to Isaiah, the break was about a different action, but we today - since we have Revelation and the very similar language used there, can see clearly that it was about a different time!  Oh my!  Yet another amazing example that the Bible is NOT just some book thrown together by men of different times!!!

++++

***

2023 - In light of Grudem's Section 6, about the church, how can "the church" fulfill Isa 2:1-4?  Don't you have to get into that "gradually better as time goes on" for their to be any hope of fruition to this prophecy?  World peace is in here, and so is one world government!  "Out of Zion" shall go the law.  Is the world church going to have it's world HQ in Israel?  Or is this about Israel in the end times?  I think the earthly promises to Israel will be fulfilled ON EARTH in the Millennial.  The Church will not be a part of that, but be raptured to heaven before it starts. 

The intro to this chapter seems to separate it from Chapter 1 as a separate prophesy, or vision.  MSB says this second vision runs from 2:1 to 5:30.

In the second verse we are told this prophesy is of the latter days.  I am not quite sure when those are. 

MSB is a help: 

OT prophets had no knowledge really of the time between the first and second advents, and saw the latter days as the time when the Millennial Kingdom would be set up.  However, the NT consistently calls the time from Jesus first advent the latter days.  What the expression "last days" or "latter days" really references is the messianic era, whether you start that as OT prophets did with the millennial kingdom, or as NT writers did, with the first advent. 

Through vs 5 we can recognize the Jerusalem of the Millennial Reign.  I say this because the description of Jerusalem as a counselor to the nations was not the role she had in the 1st century, when Jesus was here.  Jerusalem was under the thumb of Rome at the time.  So these first verses describe Jerusalem in the Millennial - Latter days here refers to the time in Revelation, not the time in the gospels.  So the term "latter days" can surely mean both, and we must use context to determine exactly what is meant. 

10-22 are about the Day of the Lord, which ties in to the tribulation and great tribulation.  To the vengeance of God on mankind.  Per MSB, Day of the Lord, or Day of Reckoning, appears 19 times in the OT and 4 times in the NT .  They are all listed in the MSB footnote for Isa 2:12.  This would be a good study.  There is a lot more in this particular footnote.  Much to study.  BUT, the thing to note is that Day of the Lord can refer to near or far judgement, it can refer to providential or God-sent judgement.  It must be interpreted based on the context, and I am sure there are endless arguments on each usage of the phrase.  Per MSB, there are two judgements yet to be fulfilled:  One at the end of Daniel's 70th week, and one at the end of the Millennial.

(2021 - Vs 20 connects with 17:8 and 30:22.  See especially notes at 30:22)

vss 6-22 seem to me to be about the tribulation.  Actually, they seem to tie more to Great Tribulation.  They tie to "wrath".  It would be a good study to tie these verses to specific verses in Revelation.  Caves of rocks, cleft of rocks, men hiding themselves...things like that.

2021 - Vs. 12 says "a day", vs 17 "in that day".  We are talking about a much shorter period of time when all this will be poured out than what the latter days are about.