ISAIAH
1st 783-738 B.C. Chp. 1-40
2nd 735-719 B.C. Chp. 40-55
3rd 719-704 B.C. Chp. 55-66
7
People and Leaders
Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give
ear, O earth,
For the Lord has spoken:
I (the Lord) reared the children and brought
them up—
And they have rebelled against Me!
Isaiah 1:4 My people takes no thought
Ah, sinful nation!
People laden with iniquity!
Brook of evildoers!
Depraved children!
They have forsaken the Lord, …
Turned their backs on Him.
Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rogues
And cronies of thieves,
Every one avid for presents
And greedy for gifts.
The majority of ‘people’ ‘take no thought’
and the leaders are rogues; the typical realities at the end of
an age. (references from the new translation of the Tanakh)
The Lord here is probably Melchizedek, who
through Moses and the patriarchs "reared and brought the children"
of Israel up. Now we slip into what is still the future to us:
Messiah
Isaiah 2:2 In the days to come,
The Mount of the Lord’s House
Shall stand firm above the mountains.
And tower above the hills’
And all the nations
Shall gaze upon it with joy.
And the many peoples shall go and say:
"Come, let us go up to the Mount of the
Lord,
To the House of God of Jacob;
That He may instruct us in His ways,
And that we may walk in His paths."
For instruction shall come forth from Zion
The word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Then he will judge among the nations
And arbitrate for the many peoples,
And they shall beat their swords into
plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not take up
Sword against nation;
They shall never again know war.
War will cease forever when
Melchizedek takes sovereignty. The "mount of the Lord’s house" is
the present temple mount of modern Israel on which the 3rd Temple
will be built and in which "the presence of the Lord" (Melchizedek’s
semi-material form) will dwell once again. The nations will be
judged and the world’s corrupt leadership will be deposed and
replaced by those of true merit. Melchizedek will personally
instruct, judge, arbitrate and do away with war on this world. If
not for divine intervention, the world as we know it would have
perished.The Lord continues to speak through Isaiah to the
leaders:
Isaiah 2:17 Then man’s haughtiness will
be humbled
And the pride of man brought low.
None but the Lord shall be
Exalted in that day.
Isaiah 3 :15 How dare you crush My people
And grind the faces of the poor…
Isaiah 4:2 In that day,
The radiance of the Lord
Will lend beauty and glory,
And the splendor of the land
Will give dignity and majesty
To the survivors of Israel
And those who remain in Zion. (the remnant)
Lord Melchizedek’s semi-material presence
is capable of emanating large quantities of visible light, thus "the
radiance of the Lord." The "splendor of the land" alludes to the
transformation of the soon-to-be-desolated modern Israel, into a
beautiful and bounteous "new garden of Eden."
Notice here that there are two remnants
after the upcoming world events: " the survivors of Israel " and "
those who remain in Zion," i.e., Jerusalem. Both of these remnants:
one from the northern Lost Ten Tribes and another from the southern
tribes of Judah lineage, today’s modern Israel, will be further
discussed elsewhere. Next we have:
Misleaders
Isaiah 5:12 They (the leaders) never give
a thought
To the plan of the Lord,
And take no note
Of what He is designing…
Isaiah 5:14 And down it shall go,
That splendor and tumult
That din and revelry …
Isaiah 5:20 Ah,
those who call evil good
And good evil;
Who present darkness as light
And light as darkness;
Ah,
Those who are so wise—
In their own opinion;
So clever—
In their own judgment!
Such people are all around us. They are
our leadership class (the class of the power elite). The confusion
created by ‘those who call evil good and good evil’ is also all
around us today. Values seem to be upside down from what they should
be. But those who love God will not succumb because:
Isaiah 8 :10 Hatch a plot—it shall be
foiled.
Agree on action—it shall not succeed.
For with us is God!
Slipping into the future again, we have:
Isaiah 10:20-22 And in that day,
The remnant of Israel
And the escaped of the House of Jacob
Shall lean no more upon him
That beats it,
But shall lean sincerely
On the Lord, the Holy One of Israel
Only a remnant shall return,
Only a remnant of Jacob,
To mighty God.
Even if your people, O Israel,
Should be as the sands of the sea,
Only a remnant shall return.
Those "who beat" the "escaped of the House
of Jacob" and the "remnant of Israel" are the leaders and power
elite who persecute and "hold captive" those who follow God during
the trial period at the end of this age. The Lord through Isaiah
tell us that the people, once liberated from their leaders who ‘beat
them’ will lean/rely directly only on the Holy One of Israel. Notice
"only a remnant" of Jacob and Israel returns – the faithful and
true.
Note here again, there returns two
remnants: "The Israel remnant," the remnant of the Northern Ten
Tribes who lost their identity and have never returned; and the
remnant of the "House of Jacob" probably referring to the remnant of
the Jews/Judah, those who will escape the future destruction of
modern Israel. Also note again the phrase "sand of the sea " to
refer to the multitudes of the Lost Ten Tribes. Remember, "Israel"
(the Northern Tribes) is composed mainly of the "myriads" of
Joseph’s chosen son Ephraim and the "multitudes" of his other son
Manasseh. We will identify this large group of people soon. Both
Ephraim and Manasseh were to be abundantly blessed; past, present
and future. God and Melchizedek have temporarily allowed
the land of Canaan to be taken from Jacob (Judah and Israel) in
consequence to their backsliding; but they never take away their
love for them or the promises they gave Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
These promises will be made good in the years directly ahead of us.
Now we next have:
Messiah
Isaiah 11:7 The wolf shall dwell with the
lamb,
The leopard lie down with the kid …
A babe shall play over a viper’s hole …
The Urantia Book tells us that the angels
have powers over the beasts of the land. I believe that we will
witness this power. Again we have:
He (the Lord
Melchizedek) will hold up a signal to the nations
And assemble the banished of Israel
(northern ten lost tribes)
And gather the dispersed of Judah
(the Jewish remnant)
From the four corners of the earth. (my
parentheses)
God’s people will be gathered from all
corners of the earth at age’s end, wherever a soul exists that loves
and respects his Creator, no matter what religion, race, or
creed.
Isaiah 12:5 Hymn the Lord,
For He has done gloriously;
Let this be known
In all the world!
Oh, shout for joy,
You who dwell in Zion!
For great in your midst
Is the Holy One of Israel.
The semi-material Melchizedek (Holy One of
Israel) will literally dwell "in our midst," once again in Zion as
before. Now we have:
Isaiah 24:14 These shall lift up their
voices,
Exult in the majesty of the Lord.
They shall shout from the sea:
Therefore honor the Lord with lights
In the coastlands of the sea—…
From the end of the earth
We hear singing.
Glory to the righteous!
Notice here that those who rejoice in
God’s victory are located far away from Canaan, and across the sea
from the country Israel and shout from coastlands. Where and who
could they be? Why are they shouting and singing? Next, we change
subjects:
Isaiah 24:18 For sluices are opened on high,
And earth’s foundations tremble.
The earth is breaking, breaking;
The earth is crumbling, crumbling.
The earth is tottering, tottering;
The earth is swaying like a drunkard;
It is rocking to and fro like a hut.
Its iniquity shall weigh it down …
In that day, the Lord will punish
The host of heaven in heaven
And the kings of the earth on earth.
This stanza indicates large-scale motions
and disruptions in the earth at the time when "the Lord" arrives to
establish peace. This may represent large scale tectonic activity or
possibly even shifting of the poles as discussed in the chapter on
Emily Dickinson. In that day confirms that this passage
refers to the end of the age. The "hosts of heaven" are the
rebellious spirit beings involved in the Lucifer rebellion. Also
notice that the "kings of the earth" will be singled out for their
mis-leadership. This is because these "leaders of nations" will
cause the peoples of the earth to war with one another, as well as
many other problems. These leaders, including our own, will be held
responsible for the reprehensible conditions the world will be in. I
believe these conditions refer to the environmental degradation,
war, famine, disease, oppression of the weak, social strife,
political chaos, and religious persecution that will exist. God
expects that leaders given power will act as wise shepherds over
His children. To those who have been given much, much will be
expected.
Isaiah 24:23 Then the moon shall be
ashamed,
And the sun shall be abashed.
For the Lord of Hosts will reign
On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
And the Presence will be revealed to His
elders.
The last stanza states again that the
"Lord of Hosts" will reign and dwell on Mount Zion for the benefit
of all the world. Could "the Presence" be Melchizedek’s
semi-material presence, as in the days of old? Next, we have:
Isaiah 29:5 And suddenly, in an instant,
…
With roaring, and shaking, and deafening
noise,
Storm and tempest, and blaze of consuming
fire.
Then, like a dream, a vision in the night,
Shall be the multitude of nations . . .
So shall be all the multitude of nations
That was upon Mount Zion.
(Dotted lines represent breaks in the
continuous text.) Here again we have evidence of cataclysmic natural
events occurring at the time of Lord Melchizedek’s arrival. Are
these local or global events? The effect of this cataclysm will be
to defeat the ‘multitude of nations’ that are upon Mount Zion
attacking Jerusalem/Israel.
The "multitude of nations" is similar to
another phrase; ie: "all the nations" that will bring a final war
against Jerusalem and modern Israel. Recently, the United States
has abandoned its long-standing support of modern Israel and has now
joined the rest of the world’s nations in currying favor with the
Arab contingent. NATO, a previously defensive
organization, has now become the United Nations’ "world police
force." If and when this police force is used against modern Israel,
the prophecy of "all the nations" coming against Israel will have
been fulfilled. The political activity in the Middle East is a
clock for the fulfillment of prophecy; for when the hour of this
war strikes, Melchizedek will sometime thereafter make his entry and
all the world will know it. Also the Lord through Isaiah says to
these leaders:
Misleaders
Isaiah 29:12 Act stupid and be stupefied!
Act blind and be blinded!
(They are drunk, but not from wine,
They stagger, but not from liquor.)
For the Lord has spread over you
A spirit of deep sleep,
And has shut your eyes, the (false)
prophets,
And covered your heads, the seers;
So that all prophecy has been to you
Like the words of a sealed document.
Isaiah 29:11 If it is handed to one who can
read and he is asked to read it,
he will say, "I can’t, because it is
sealed;" and if the document
is handed to one who cannot read and he is
asked to read it, he
will say, "I can’t read."
My (Isaiah’s) Lord said:
Because that people has approached [Me] with
its mouth
And honored Me with its lips,
But has kept its heart far from Me,
And its worship of Me has been
A commandment of men, learned by rote—
Truly, I shall further baffle that people
With bafflement upon bafflement;
And the wisdom of its wise shall fail,
And the prudence of its prudent shall
vanish.
Those who unknowingly bring about God’s
prophecy will be totally oblivious to that prophecy. When we turn
away from God, we also turn away from the source of all wisdom and
knowledge. We are "blind and blinded," "stupid and stupefied." To
many of us, living religion is crystallized into "a commandment of
men, learned by rote." We pay lip service to God but have no living
connection to Him. What we say and what we do are two different
things. Since God, and only God, is the source of love and life, we
, like the living branch of a vine, become cut off and withered by
our separation from Him. We are told:
Messiah
Isaiah Surely, in a little while,
29:17-20 Lebanon will be transformed into farmland,
And farmland accounted as mere brush.|
In that day, the deaf shall hear even
written words,
And the eyes of the blind shall see
Even in darkness and obscurity.
Then the humble shall have
Increasing joy through the Lord.
And the neediest of men will exult
In the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant shall be no more.
The scoffer shall cease to be;
And those diligent for evil shall be
wiped out.
The disappearance of ‘the scoffer, the
tyrant, and those diligent for evil,’ who still are all too
prevalent among us, tells us that these prophecies lie still in our,
hopefully, not too distant future.
This truly will be a transformed world
when Melchizedek takes sovereignty. Yet what will the majority of
people think and say when they hear these prophecies? Isaiah
answers:
The People
Isaiah 30:9 It is a rebellious people,
Faithless children,
Children who refuse to heed
The instruction of the Lord;
Who say to the seers,
"Do not see."
To the prophets,
"Do not prophesy truth to us;
Speak to us in falsehoods,
Prophesy delusions
Leave the way!
Get off the path!
Let us hear no more."
Many of us will not be willing to let go
of our cherished secular worldviews. We would rather not hear the
truths of our failings and deceptions. But before very long, in
the coming days of justice, every one of us will stand alone in the
light of truth on the "Day of the Lord." But we know that God’s
justice is always tempered with mercy, therefore:
Isaiah 30:18 Truly, the Lord is waiting to
show you grace,
Truly, He will arise to pardon you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;|
Happy are all who wait for Him.
Indeed, O people in Zion, dwellers of Jerusalem, you shall
not have cause to
weep. He will grant you His favor at the sound of your
cry; He will respond as
soon as He hears it. My Lord will provide for you meager
bread and scant water.
Then your Guide will no more be
ignored, but your eyes will watch your Guide;
and, whenever you deviate to the right or to the left,
your ears will heed the
command from behind you: "This is the road; follow it!"
Here the Lord is addressing the faithful
and true remnants, as well as the downtrodden and humble. This
passage applies to the future, the end of this age, because "the
Lord" has not yet arisen to "pardon" Israel and Judah for their
transgressions. However, He has started the process of gathering
some of "his peoples" back to Israel. The pardon will follow when
Melchizedek returns to heal the long-open wounds of "his people."
The amazing statement regarding our "Guide" is exactly the teaching
of the Urantia Book, i.e., that the Kingdom of Heaven is within
us, in the form of the indwelling spirit of God, which "guides" us
from within our consciousness and keeps us from "deviating to the
right or the left" from God’s Will straight ahead. The true way,
the kingdom of heaven within, is an ancient way although it
seems new to our modern world. Now, back to the
"Day of the Lord" when Melchizedek arises.
Isaiah 30:25 And on every high mountain and
on every lofty hill, there
shall appear brooks and watercourses—on a
day of heavy
slaughter, when towers topple. And
the light of the moon shall
become like the light of the sun, and the
light of the sun shall
become sevenfold, like the light of the
seven days, when the
Lord binds up His people’s wounds and heals
the injuries it
has suffered.
A large scale healing of spiritual and
physical wounds is implied in scripture regarding the Messianic end
of the age.
The "day of heavy slaughter" is the day
that ‘all the nations’ come against modern Israel and are defeated
by the arrival of Melchizedek. "When towers topple" refers to the
large, possibly global, tectonic event that will cause walls and
towers to topple. The brooks and watercourses shall result from this
same tectonic event. The reference to the increased light occurs
repeatedly. This may be due to some physical event or possibly due
to the light emanated from Melchizedek’s presence. These events
described have not yet happened; therefore, their future occurrence
is very probable. More on this subject:
Isaiah 31:4-5 So the Lord of Hosts will
descend to make war
Against the mount and the hill of Zion.
Like the birds that fly, even so will
The Lord of Hosts shield Jerusalem,
Shielding and saving, protecting and
rescuing.
Melchizedek enters at a time of great
trouble, but peace is destined to reign. Also, we now know that a
remnant of Jerusalem and modern Israel (Judah) survive, probably due
to the protection provided them by Melchizedek. We are also told
here that the "Lord of Hosts" "descends" and "shields" like "the
birds that fly." We recall how previously the Lord’s presence
was said to reside in a pillar of cloud overhead the exodus
community. "The Lord" led the peoples by day and provided light at
night from this "pillar of cloud." Now we are told that he will
"descend like a bird" and shield Jerusalem upon his arrival. What
could this mean? What might we see that could descend in the literal
sky. Next, we have some other cloud references describing events
during the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
Cloud
Ps. 78:14 In the daytime also He (the
Lord) led them (the Israelites) with a cloud,
and all the night with a light of fire.
Ps. 99:7 He (the Lord) spake
unto them in the cloudy pillar;
They kept His testimonies, and the ordinance
that He gave them.
Neh. 9:19 Yet Thou (the Lord) in Thy
manifold mercies forsook them not in the
Wilderness, and the pillar of the cloud
departed not from them
Day by day, to lead them in the way.
. .
There are dozens of these cloud
references, and they are among many diverse books in the Old
Testament. If it were only one line in one book, one could easily
discredit this description. God wants us to understand His plan. He
doesn’t hide it from us. Emily Dickinson writes that:
Tis not
revelation that waits—
But our unfurnished eyes! (poem #685)
I couldn’t agree more. Revelation is all
around and within us but we can not see what we are not aware of.
More about clouds will come later. For now we will simply note the
occurrence of these events in the sky that involve the Lord’s
(Melchizedek’s) presence. And now:
Messianic Events
Isaiah 21:1 Behold, a King shall
reign in righteousness,
And ministers shall govern with Justice;
The name Melchizedek literally means
King of Righteousness. Presently, the world has little or
no justice therefore this line describes a world not yet come, but
when it does:
Isaiah 32:3 Then the eyes of those
who have sight shall not be sealed,
And the ears of those who have hearing shall
listen;
And the minds of the thoughtless shall
attend and note . . .
Isaiah 32:5 No more shall a villain be
called noble,
At last, the upside down world is set upright on its axis:
Isaiah 32:14 For the castle shall be
abandoned,
The noisy city forsaken;
Citadel and tower shall become
Brushland forever
Till a spirit from on high is poured out on
us,
And wilderness is transformed into farmland
. . .
Then my people shall dwell in peaceful
homes,
In untroubled places of rest
Even as the city is laid low.
Cities fare very poorly in the events to
come both as a result of natural and man made disasters. Consider:
Rev: 16:19 And the great city (Jerusalem)
was divided unto three parts,
(by tectonic activity)
And the cities of the nations fell.
Psalms 9:6 The enemy has been cut off and has
Vanished in everlasting ruins,
You (Lord) have plucked up and
Overthrown their cities;
The very memory of them
Has perished and vanished
But the Lord shall remain
And continue forever.
And he will judge the world
In righteousness.
Arise, O Lord! Let not man
Prevail; lest the nations be judged before
You.
The time period of the above scripture is
the Messianic end of the age because ‘The Lord shall remain and
continue forever’ in reference to Melchizedek’s sovereign presence.
How many cities will ‘perish and vanish?’
Back to Isaiah, we have:
Isaiah 35:8 A highway shall appear there,
Which shall be called the Sacred Way
. . .
Isaiah 35:9 The redeemed shall walk it;
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come with shouting to Zion,
Crowned with joy everlasting.
A sacred highway ‘appears’ on which the
faithful remnants make their way to Zion (Jerusalem). This will be
discussed later.
Zion refers to the highest of the
mountain eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It is surrounded on
all sides by deep valleys except to the north where the temple mount
lies. Zion is sometimes used in the Old Testament to denote
Jerusalem in general. It literally means ‘sunny’ and ‘height’. It is
just south of the temple mount and is also called the City of David.
Note the grand celebration below of a joyous reunion between
Melchizedek and his estranged children, the remnants of "lost
Israel" and "Judah."
Ps. 53:7 O that the deliverance of
Israel
Might come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of His
people,
Jacob will exult; Israel (lost northern
tribes) will rejoice.
The Psalms writer discloses this happy
ending, an ending that was disclosed to him by their one time
instructor and collaborator, Melchizedek. Again, important events
are mentioned throughout the Psalms, prophets, as well as other Old
Testament scripture. These statements are all consistent with each
other despite their diverse locations in the body of scripture.
Next we have:
Isaiah 40:3 A voice rings out:
‘Clear in the desert
A road for the Lord!
Level in the wilderness
A highway for our God…
The Presence of the Lord shall appear
And all flesh shall behold –,
For the Lord Himself has spoken. …(Isaiah
40:5)
A voice rings out ‘Proclaim!’ …(Isaiah 40:6)
Ascend a lofty mountain,
O herald of joy to Zion;
Raise your voice to with power, …
Raise it have no fear;
Announce to the cities of Judah:
Behold your God (Melchizedek) …(Isaiah 40:9)
John the Baptist took the first stanza
above for his own and used it to announce Jesus. The Final Prophet
to come will also use these lines to announce another Lord who
comes, Lord Melchizedek. The Final Prophet is specifically
identified here as ‘the herald of joy to Zion’ who proclaims to Zion
‘Behold your God!’ ‘Behold your God’ is the same as ‘Your divine
being reigns’ cited in 11Q13 of the Dead Sea Scrolls which
identifies this messenger as the interpreter of the law (Final
Prophet) and the divine being as Melchizedek. ‘The Presence’ recalls
the ‘Lord in the bush’ and the ‘Presence of the Lord’ dwelling in
Zion and within the cloud during exodus. All of these presences are
the semi-material presence of Lord Melchizedek as described in the
Urantia Book. The statement ‘that all flesh will behold’ also
conjures up the Lord Messiah who is described in scripture to come
in a very visible display, in contrast to no display with
regard to Jesus. And so we have one scripture passage, which
pertains to two different ending ages with two different Lords and
prophets. Next, the Lord addresses the coastlands:
Isaiah 41:1 Stand silent before Me,
coastlands,
And let the nations renew their strength.
Let them approach to state their case;
Let us come together for argument.
Here are those "coastlands" again. Who
could they be? Who will win the "argument" when the nations’ leaders
stand in the presence of Melchizedek on that fateful day? Now
turning from the leaders to those at the opposite end of the
spectrum, the Lord says:
Isaiah 42:17 The poor and needy
Seek water, and there is none;
Their tongue is parched with thirst
I, the Lord, will respond to them . . .
I will open up streams on the bare hills
And fountains amid the valleys . . .
There seems to be a drought in the time
and place of this reference. The time in reference is the messianic
end of the age because only then are "streams opened on bare hills
and fountains amid valleys." To be sure, when men turn their backs
on God they move out from under the gentle rain/reign of His mercy.
The impersonal universe of law knows only that there is an imbalance
present and that it needs to restore that balance by any means
possible, including the elimination of the inciting agent, which in
this case is mankind. If my timing is correct, I would expect the
drought that is now developing in the Middle East and elsewhere to
continue to get worse right up until the imbalance is set right by
Melchizedek. This is also applicable to the other sundry
ecological and environmental imbalances, which continue to worsen.
Should it really come as a surprise to us that physical processes
are affected by spiritual determinants? After all, the Urantia Book
teaches us that at higher levels of reality the seemingly diverse
realms of matter, mind and spirit are unified into a seamless whole.
The rays of reality converge in the Source and Center of All Things.
The physical and spiritual are intertwined on higher levels of
reality and therefore interact and affect one another. Next the Lord
turns his attention to His servant:
God's servant, Final Prophet
Isaiah 42:1 This is My servant,
whom I uphold,
My chosen one, in whom I delight.
I have put My spirit upon him,
He shall teach the true way to the
nations.
He shall not cry out or shout aloud,
Or make his voice heard in the streets.
He shall not break even a dim wick.
He shall bring forth the true way.
He shall not grow dim or be bruised
Till he has established the true way
on earth;
And the coastlands shall await his teaching.
Who is this servant? He teaches the true
way (or true religion, mishpat in Hebrew) to the
gentile nations. The true way is the Kingdom of Heaven within,
Jesus’ true message, and the main subject of the Urantia Book.
UB p. 1107 True religion consists
in the experience that "the Spirit
itself hears witness with our spirit that we
are the children of
God. (Also see chapter True Religion page
1104 Urantia Book
and Jesus’ Discourse on True Religion page
1728, Urantia Book)
True religion, the true way, is a way that
has never yet been taught "to the nations". Elsewhere in scripture
we are told that before the end of the age the gospel of the Kingdom
of Heaven will be proclaimed to all the world. Who in the present
world knows about the Kingdom of Heaven? Certainly not the popular
scholars. Read their work! Certainly not those who espouse the
gospel about Jesus Christ. Then, just who might this be? It
would appear that the servant in Isaiah 42 is an individual that
will teach about the Kingdom of Heaven within.
Note that God ‘puts his spirit’ on the servant, therefore God
‘anoints’ the servant!
Anointment is what happens to make someone a
messiah. This is why the Dead Sea Scrolls speak of more than one
messiah. The Messiah is Melchizedek a divine being, another messiah
is God’s servant, the Final Prophet whom God has ‘put His spirit
upon’ (anointed).
Also note that God calls His servant My
chosen one. This provides a link to a Dead Sea Scroll fragment,
which describes a chosen one who reveals God’s truths and
wisdom at the end of the age. The fragment gives us physical
characteristics, education, life history and purpose. I believe this
Scroll fragment describes the end of the age, final prophet to come:
4Q534 …of his hand: two…a
birthmark. And the hair will be red.
Chosen And there will be lentils on…and small birthmarks
on his thigh.
One And after two years he will know how to
distinguish one thing
from another. In his youth he will be like…a
man who knows
nothing until the time when he knows the
three Books.
And then he will acquire wisdom and learn
understanding…
vision to come to him on his knees. And with
his father and
his ancestors…life and old age. Council and
prudence will be
with him, and he will know the secrets of
man. His wisdom
will reach all the peoples, and he will know
the secrets of all
the living. And all their designs against
him will come to
nothing, and his rule over the living will
be great. His designs
will succeed, for he is the Elect of God.
His birth and the
breath of his spirit…and his designs will be
forever…
One can speculate that this information
regarding the final prophet was part of the revelation to the
Teacher of Righteousness of the Qumran community. More on this topic
will come later.
We also note the coastlands again; they are the ones who "await
the teaching" of God’s servant. Next, the Lord further addresses the
coastlands:
Isaiah 42:9 See, the things once
predicted have come,
And now I foretell new things,
Announce them to you ere they sprout up . .
.
Isaiah 42:10 You coastlands and their
inhabitants! . . .
Isaiah 42:11 Call out from the peaks of the
mountains.
Let them do honor to the Lord,
And tell His glory in the coastlands
. . .
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind
By a road they did not know,
And I will make them walk
By paths they never knew.
I will turn darkness before them to light,
Rough places into level ground.
These are the promises—
I will keep them without fail.
First, God tells us that he is announcing
something new. Since the described events have not yet happened, we
can be sure that they will happen in the future. (The near future,
in my estimation). The Lord tells us that He will lead those who
live in the coastlands by roads and paths they never knew,
turning darkness into light, and rough places into level ground.
These promises will definitely be kept. Now, if we are falling
asleep while reading this, God says:
Isaiah 42:18 Listen, you who are deaf;
You blind ones, look up and see!
Who is so blind as My servant,
So deaf as the messenger I send?
Who is so blind as the chosen one,
So blind as the servant of the Lord?
Seeing many things, you give no heed;
With ears open, he hears nothing.
The Lord desires His servant’s vindication,
That he may magnify and glorify His
teaching.
Here we have a comical account of the
servant—who is as blind or more so than the rest. He needs God’s
vindication as he stumbles along. We are also told here that this
servant in the coastlands is a messenger as well as a
servant, thus linking the servant of Isaiah to the "messenger" and
"interpreter of the law," both of which are terms used to describe
the final prophet in the Scrolls. Only God could love such a foolish
sounding person. God loves to bring his truth through the lowly and
humble. (Out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom.) Some may be
disappointed if they have unrealistic expectations regarding this
servant. God now reassures those who love Him:
Protection/Restoration
Isaiah 43:1 Fear not, for I will redeem
you;
I have singled you out by name,
You are Mine.
When you pass through water,
I will be with you;
Through streams,
They shall not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire,
You shall not be scorched.
Through flame,
It shall not burn you.
Isaiah 43:4 Because you are precious
to Me,
And honored, and I love you,
I give men in exchange for you
And peoples in your stead . . .
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the end of the earth—
This passage is one of the most touching
expressions of the Father’s love for His children. Truly, "the hairs
on our heads are numbered." Also, notice again the theme of God’s
protection of His people through "water and fire." Lastly, note that
His sons and daughters are located far away from the central
location Israel. This must be the Lost Israel remnant as the Judah
remnant (Jews) are already gathering in modern Israel.
Now we have:
Judgment
Isaiah 43:9 All the nations assemble as
one,
The peoples gather.
Who among them declared this,
Foretold to us the things that have
happened?
Let them produce their witnesses to be
vindicated,
That men, hearing them, may say, "It is
true!"
My witnesses are you,
-declares the Lord—
This assembly of nations and people has
never yet occurred, but will occur, and we (the readers) will be
witnesses to the truth of this prophecy that we are now reading.
Only God knows the future. He is demonstrating that. Now God speaks
through Isaiah about why He chose to have a servant:
Isaiah 43:10 My servant, whom I have chosen
To the end that you (the people) may take
thought,
And believe in Me,
And understand that I am He . . .
Isaiah 43:12 Beside Me, none can grant
triumph
I alone told the deliverance
And I brought it to pass;
I announced it . . .
So you are My witnesses.
Consider yourself a witness to the coming
deliverance of those who elect God. God continues to tell us what He
is going to do:
Isaiah 43:19 I will make a road through the
wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
The wild beasts shall honor Me. . .
Isaiah 44:3 Even as I pour water on a
thirsty soil,
And rain upon the dry ground,
So will I pour My spirit on your offspring,
My blessing upon your posterity
And they shall sprout like grass . . .
The drought will finally be broken by an
outpouring of physical water upon the physical desert as well as the
spiritual water on the spiritual desert that so many souls are
living through. These people:
Isaiah 44:18 Have no wit or judgment;
Their eyes are besmeared, and they see not;
Their minds, and they cannot think.
They do not give thought.
This is a good description of many people
that lived then and many that live now. We are told what to think by
the mass media. We have stopped thinking for ourselves because our
minds are numb and atrophied. We "hear no evil, see no evil and do
no evil." America, wake up! Turn off the T.V. and the experts.
Listen to God speak through his servants, the prophets........
Isaiah 44:24 It is I, the Lord, who made
everything,
Who alone stretched out the heavens . . .
I annul the omens of diviners,
And make fools of the augurs;
Who turn sages back
And make nonsense of their knowledge;
But confirm the word of My servant
And fulfill the predictions of My
messengers.
The intellectual elite of our world
appears daily in newspapers and on our televisions. They are the
"experts" who write the books about marriage, although they are
divorced three times. They tell us how to bring up our children, and
yet their own children rebel against them. They know everything
about anything, and there is no doubt about it. Ask if they believe
in God and somber tones cover the smirk and smile. And yet, the
question of God is the essential question of all philosophy, all
ideologies, and all human understanding. If this most essential
question were on a test, it would count for ninety-nine percent of
the grade and the remaining one percent of the test would directly
depend on the answer to the first. If you are wrong about God, then
you are wrong about very much else as well. Yet the intellectual and
political elite are all confirmed in the opinion that "religion is
the opiate of the masses." Those who won’t say this in public
believe it in private, as their very actions and behavior betray
them. If our leaders are wrong about the first question, what hope
do we have for a peaceful world guided by wisdom. My answer for that
is zero. What do you think? Many of us deny or question the
existence of the very One who gave us existence. God replies:
Isaiah 45:9 Shame on him who argues with
his Maker,
Though naught but a potsherd of earth!
Shall the clay say to the potter, "What are
you doing?
Your work has no handle."
If you live on this world at this time, no
doubt you know of people who display this level of arrogance. Next,
more of that divine compassion. Our Father explains to us:
Isaiah 46:4 Till you grow old, I will be
the same
When you turn gray; it is I who will carry;
I am the Maker, and I will be the Bearer;
And I will carry and rescue you.
And so our Father tends his children, most
often without recognition and without thanks. Yet, His
commitment never wavers, never hesitates, and never sleeps.
The Urantia Book speaks of Second Isaiah (Chps.
40-55) with high praise.
UB p. 1069 He was poetic in his portrayal
of the infinite attributes of the
Universal Father. No more beautiful
pronouncements about the
Heavenly Father have ever been made.
UB p. 1068 He (Isaiah) also believed with
Jeremiah that Yahweh had
become the God of all nations.
Next, God has further words for the high
and mighty; our elite leaders and controllers:
Isaiah 47:8 And now hear this, O pampered
one—
Who dwell in security,
Who think to yourself,
I am, and there is none but me; . . .
You thought, "No one can see me."
Isaiah 47:10 It was your skill and your
science
That led you astray.
Notice how similar that time is to ours.
Ends of ages have highly similar circumstances and types of people.
Human history is monotonously similar, repeating cycles of sameness.
But there is evolutionary progress; the remnant groups have a
survival advantage that results from biologic factors that modify
the capacity for spiritual receptivity. The Adamic genes should
therefore become increasingly prevalent over long periods of time.
The comment of 47:10 on science as the cause of our going
astray is well taken. True religion and true science are
complementary and never contradictory, however man’s error exists in
forming a religion about science that denies or ignores God
and true religion. This religion of science believes that science
has all the answers for man’s every problem, that science is the
only true knowledge, that man doesn’t need the axiom of God, that
man can completely understand his world through science, and that
science offers proof and certainty. All of these beliefs are false,
but they go unrecognized and unchallenged. As the Urantia Book
states, we overreacted to the superstitions and tyranny of the
Middle Ages and threw out the baby with the bath. (The baby being
God and the bath being knowledge based on superstition). Balance is
what we have lacked, and balance is what we are given in the Fifth
Epochal Revelation, the Urantia Book. Further, God reads our
thoughts to us and comments:
Leaders
Isaiah 47:10 And you thought to yourself,
"I am and there is none but me."
Evil is coming upon you
Which you will not know how to charm away;
Disaster is falling upon you
Which you will not be able to appease;
Coming upon you suddenly
Is ruin of which you know nothing.
Isaiah is speaking about Babylon and its upcoming conquest by
Cyrus of Persia. But ends of ages are similar. Perhaps this verse
will also pertain to our own upcoming "world crisis." Let’s review
here what the Urantia Book tells us about "the world crisis." (The
comments in parentheses are mine.)
World Crisis, Urantia Book
UB p. 1863 Although Jesus referred one
phase of the kingdom to the
future and did, on many occasions, intimate
that such an event
might appear as a part of a world crisis.
(dotted lines are my
breaks in the text)
Secularism
UB p. 2081 The father of secularism was
the narrow minded and godless
attitude of . . . atheistic science.
Secularism had its inception as a rising
protest against the domination . . . by the
institutionalized Christian
church. The majority of professed
Christians . . . are unwittingly
actual secularists. Secularism . . . sells
man into slavish bondage to the
totalitarian state . . . the tyranny of
political and economic
slavery. Secularism can never bring peace
to mankind. Nothing
can take the place of God in human
society . . . Secularism
simply ignores God. More recently,
secularism has assumed
a more militant attitude, assuming to
take the place of the
religion whose totalitarian bondage it one
time resisted. But Beware:
this godless philosophy will lead only to
unrest, animosity, unhappiness,
war, and worldwide disaster. Complete
secularization . . . can
lead only to disaster.
Those that argue that this "disaster" lies
in our past (WWII) should answer the question whether or not
secularism still governs the world of today or not. If you think
that it does, then it must follow that disaster is yet to come
because "worldwide disaster" is the result of worldwide secularism
according to the Urantia Book quotation above.
UB p. 2086 Christianity unwittingly seems
to sponsor a society, which
staggers under the guilt of tolerating
science without idealism,
politics without principles, wealth without
work, pleasure
without restraint, knowledge without
character, power
without conscience, and industry without
morality.
Selfish men and women simply will not
pay such a price for
even the greatest spiritual treasure ever
offered mortal man.
Only when man has become sufficiently
disillusioned by the
sorrowful disappointment attendant
upon the foolish and
deceptive pursuits of selfishness . . . will
he be disposed to
turn . . . to the religion of Jesus of
Nazareth. (Man is not yet
so disillusioned)
UB p. 2082 During the first third of the
twentieth century, Urantia
killed more human beings than were killed
during the whole
dispensation of the Christian church. And
this is only the
beginning. . . Still more terrible
destruction is yet to come.
UB p.1487 War on Urantia will never
end so long as nations cling to
the illusive notions of unlimited national
sovereignty.
UB p.1490 Another world war (WWII) will
teach the so-called sovereign
nations to form some sort of federation,
thus creating the
machinery for preventing small wars . .
.(but not large ones)
An international police force will prevent
many minor wars,
but it will not be effective in preventing
major wars.
Worldwide confederations of nations . . .
will not prevent
world wars nor control the three, four or
five most powerful
governments. (Is this applicable to today?)
UB p. 2082 Times of great testing and
threatened defeat are always times
of great revelation.
Shortly, we will be entering this period
of world crisis. Mankind’s latest Tower of Babel will fall. It will
involve not only wars but also ecological, environmental,
meteorological, financial, economic, social and political chaos.
Further:
UB p. 1087 Institutional religion cannot
afford inspiration and provide
leadership in this impending, worldwide
social reconstruction
and economic reorganization because it
has unfortunately
become more or less of an organic part of
the social order and
the economic system, which is destined to
undergo reconstruction.
(Doesn’t reconstruction imply deconstruction
first?)
But, lest we despair:
UB p. 1088 The religion of living
experience finds no difficulty in keeping
ahead of all these social developments and
economic upheavals,
amid which it ever functions as a moral
stabilizer, social guide
and spiritual pilot.
UB p. 2082 A new and fuller revelation
of the religion of Jesus is destined
to conquer an empire of materialistic
secularism . . .(our world
empire of today)
UB p. 2083 The hour is striking for
a rediscovery of the true and original
foundation of present-day distorted and
compromised Christianity—
the real life and teachings of Jesus. (The
Kingdom of Heaven within)
However:
UB p. 2083 The spiritual renaissance
must await the coming of these new
teachers of Jesus’ religion who will be
exclusively devoted to the
spiritual regeneration of men. And then will
these spirit-born souls
quickly supply the leadership and
inspiration requisite for the social,
moral, economic and political
reorganization of the world.
And why does secularism fail?
UB p.1126 Those who would invent a
religion (any system of strong
convictions) without God are like those who
would get the
fruit without trees. . . You cannot have
effects without causes.
UB p.1126 Man may graft many purely
humanistic branches onto his
godless religion, but such an experience is
devoid of survival
values . . . only social fruits are
forthcoming, not spiritual . . .
UB p.2075 A lasting social system
without morality predicated on
spiritual realities can no more be
maintained than can a solar
system without gravity.
Secularism fails because it is inherently
faulty. Man is dependent on God whether he likes it or not. Man
cannot find his way without God. This dependence is built into the
very nature of the Father-Son relationship. And this relationship is
the rock that we must build on and the star that we must hope upon.
UB p.1747 . . . by the insight of the
spirit of my Father which dwells
within you, I am led to declare that upon
this foundation (the
indwelling spirit) will I build the
brotherhood of the Kingdom
of Heaven. Upon this rock of spiritual
reality . . .
Consider further information from the Dead Sea
Scrolls (DSC):
Thanksgiving Psalms
DSC, Vs. 7 The way of man is not
established except by the
spirit of God which created him . . .
The Community
Rule, DSC Mankind has no way, and man
is unable to establish his
steps since justification is with God
and perfection of way is
from His hand. All things come to pass by
His knowledge;
He establishes things
by His design and without Him nothing
is done. (Teacher of Righteousness)
Finally, I would note that secular
humanism gives birth to all the present reigning ideologies:
communism, socialism, and capitalism too. "Isims" are systems of
human thought that have become so highly revered that they become
the intellectual equivalent of the ancient physical
idols that were worshipped in vain. Capitalists consider profit and
capital first, last, and always. Spiritual values, social values,
and environmental values are usually not part of the equation.
Capitalism and other ideologies should be made to serve people
rather than people being made, as now, to serve the ideology. People
are the purpose and meaning of life. The Fatherhood of God
forever establishes the transcendent value of His sons and
daughters. People must come before profit. People will come
before profit. God has established it. We live in His Universe. At
this point in time however, we collectively, choose and have chosen
profit over people, and humanity languishes in the cold, dark night
of the inevitable results.
Let’s now look at some quotes from
Humanist Manifestos I and II, which are the declarations of belief
proposed by secular humanists.
Secular Humanism
Humanist Manifesto I was the first
major document (1933) of the modern Humanist
Movement. Consider the following quotes from this document.
"Religious humanists regard the universe as
self-existing and not created."
To say that the universe has no cause is
the equivalent of professing belief in an astounding miracle of
infinite magnitude, unsurpassable by any human mind. And yet
science, the very study of cause and effect, is the pillar of
secular humanism. Secular humanists say that we should discard
"super-natural superstitions" that are non-scientific. The statement
that the universe has no cause is not testable and therefore
non-scientific. The statement is an overt declaration of an
unfounded, unscientific, belief, no different than any other belief,
including religious varieties. My beliefs are axioms, yours are
superstitions, would be one way to express this. Also note that
“religious” means highly convicted and not God-believing.
"Humanism asserts that
the nature of the universe depicted by modern
science makes unacceptable any supernatural
or cosmic guarantees of
human values."(Humanist Manifesto I)
Here science is used to exclude the
possibility of any "supernaturally" established values. First of
all, science can have nothing to say about the domain of intangible
value, only religion can answer the question why? Science attends
only to the questions how, when and where. Ultimate causes, origins,
and destiny are questions of religion. Second of all, humanists have
already declared that the universe merely is and is not created.
This statement itself, as shown above, lies outside the natural
world of causes. It is itself a "supernatural" explanation.
"We are convinced that
the time has passed for theism, deism, modernism,
and the several varieties of ‘new
thought’."(Humanist Manifesto I)
Here we have stated the real battle of the
human will. Who makes the rules? God or man? Whose universe is it
anyway? The question has a real answer and if the wrong answer is
given there are real consequences that will result. We truly reap
what we sow.
"In the place of the
old attitudes involved in worship and prayer the
humanist finds his religious emotions
expressed in a heightened sense
of personal life and in a cooperative effort
to promote social well-being."
The fruits of the spirit (peace,
happiness, and joy) will only grow from a good tree rooted in God’s
spirit. All goodness comes from God, man has no goodness of his own,
regardless of the words he may utter.
"Man will learn to face
the crises of life in terms of his knowledge of
their naturalness and probability.
Reasonable and manly attitudes will be
fostered by education and supported by
custom. We assume that
humanism will take the path of social and
mental hygiene and discourage
sentimental and unreal hopes and wishful
thinking."
(Humanist Manifesto I)
Now it is revealed that secular humanists are "reasonable and
manly." Theists are therefore superstitious and weak, and they rely
on fantasy religion, the "opiate of the masses."
"Man is at last
becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the
realization of the world of his dreams,
that he has within himself the
power for its achievement. He must set
intelligence and will to the task."
Man is capable of doing anything and
everything. This sounds great, unfortunately it lacks truth. Man
needs God. We can assert our power and mastery, but our experiences
reveal our insignificance. This phrase from the Urantia Book comes
back again and again to my mind, "our arrogance outruns our reason."
Pride goeth before the fall.
Now we go to Humanist Manifesto II
written in 1973. (select passages)
"As in 1933, humanists still believe that
traditional theism, especially
faith in the prayer-hearing God, assumed to
live and care for persons, to
hear and understand their prayers, and to be
able to do something about
them, is an unproved and outmoded faith.
Salvationism, based on mere
affirmation, still appears as harmful,
diverting people with false hopes of
heaven hereafter. Reasonable minds look to
other means for survival."
We now learn that faith is unproved,
ineffective, and outmoded. How many studies have we ever done to
actually find out if there are any differences in the lives of
believers vs. non-believers? The answer is zero. I would bet that
you would find dramatic differences if such a study were done
without bias. In fact, a few recent medical studies have shown
strong correlations between faith and positive health outcomes.
The humanist dogma is succumbing to truth. Lastly, to say that
faith is unproved is the equivalent of saying nothing because there
would be no faith necessary if proof were possible. Similarly, one
can prove anything in mathematics if one allows dividing by zero as
this statement does.
"Humanism can provide
the purpose and inspiration that so many seek;
it can give personal meaning and
significance to human life."
(Hum. Manifes. II)
If this were true, we would probably be in great shape. But it
isn’t and we aren’t. Establishing purpose and meaning to life
without God is like establishing a solar system without the sun. In
both situations, planets or people fly apart.
"We affirm a set of
common principles that can serve as a basis for
united action – positive principles relevant
to the present human condition.
They are a design for a secular society on a
planetary scale."
This reveals the grand scope (planetary)
that this vision is being applied to. The United Nations charter is
a direct outgrowth of these planetary Humanist Manifestos.
Will it work?
"We find insufficient
evidence for belief in the existence of a
super-
natural; it is either meaningless or
irrelevant to the question of survival
and fulfillment of the human race. As non
theists, we begin with humans
not God, nature not deity. Nature may indeed
be broader and deeper than
we now know; any new discoveries, however,
will but enlarge our know-
ledge of the natural."
Here, the victory over theism is openly
stated and confidently relied on to predict that "new discoveries"
will only add to the conviction. How can unknown discoveries already
be known to be explainable by what we presently know? This is
another statement of arrogance, not reason.
"The preciousness and
dignity of the individual person is a central
humanist value."
The aspirations appear noble at
times. Give credit where credit is due. Success requires more than
good intentions though. It requires wisdom and truth.
"People are more
important than decalogues, rules, proscriptions,
or regulations."
Great, but are people also more important
even than profit? The world system answers no. And why are
regulations, bureaucracies, and rules allowed to remove the human
touch from our social interactions? We loose opportunities to serve
our fellow man. Since man has no intrinsic value other than what we
decide to give him (according to secular humanism), when push comes
to shove, these floating, man made, values are easily put aside.
After all isn't "everything relative?"
"At the present
juncture of history, commitment to all humankind is
the highest commitment of which we are
capable; it transcends the
narrow allegiances of church, state, party,
class, or race in moving toward
a wider vision of human potentiality. What
more daring a goal for human-
kind than for each person to become, in
ideal as well as practice, a citizen
of a world community. It is a classical
vision; we can now give it new
vitality. Humanism thus interpreted is a
moral force that has time on its
side. We believe that humankind has the
potential, intelligence, goodwill,
and cooperative skill to implement this
commitment in the decades
ahead."
This is the end of Humanist Manifesto II.
It proclaims the establishment of the brotherhood of humankind.
Unfortunately, they do not know that "you cannot establish the
brotherhood of man without the Fatherhood of God." (UB p. 2082)
Simple, basic, everyday truth, unappreciated by the closed minds of
man. Truth is so very valuable because it can be lived successfully.
Why have so few found such wisdom? Can we
find if we do not seek? Do we seek if we are not thirsty for
truth? Are we thirsty if we are still satisfied with our own
deceptions? Blessed are the meek, for they are not self-satisfied.
They are still open to the light of truth. We now return to our
discussion of Urantia Book prophecy and the world crisis to come.
We should not become so caught up in
looking for the end of the age that we neglect to establish and
maintain the Kingdom of Heaven within. For the Master said:
UB p. 1916 Even you, Thomas, fail to
comprehend what I have been
saying. Have I not taught you that your
connection with the
Kingdom of Heaven is spiritual and
individual, wholly a matter
of personal experience in the spirit by the
faith-realization that
you are a son of God? What more shall I say?
The downfall
of nations, the crash of empires, the
destruction of unbelieving
Jews, the end of an age, even the end of the
world, what have
these things to do with one who believes
this gospel and who
has led his life in the surety of the
eternal kingdom?
The coming trials will not destroy us.
Instead they will purify and transform us. Now, back to the main
narrative of Isaiah. God is explaining the real reason for these
trials to come:
Refining those who elect God’s Will
Isaiah 48:10 See, I refine you, but not as
silver;
I test you in the furnace of affliction.
Zech. 13:9 And I will put this third (of
people) into the fire
And refine them as one refines silver,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, "They are my people."
And they will say, "The Lord is my God."
Dan. 12:10 Many shall purify themselves,
and make themselves white,
and be refined; but the wicked will do
wickedly; and none of
the wicked will understand; but those who
are wise shall understand.
UB p. 100 The universe of your origin is
being forged out between the
anvil of justice and the hammer of
suffering; but those who
wield the hammer are the children of mercy,
the spirit offspring
of the Infinite Spirit.
Emily Dickinson
#365 Dare you see a Soul at the
white heat?
Then crouch within the door—
Red—is the fire’s common tint—
But when the vivid Ore
Has vanquished Flame’s conditions,
It quivers from the Forge
Without a color, but the light
Of unannointed Blaze.
Least village has a Blacksmith
Whose Anvils even ring
Stands symbol for the finer Forge
That soundless—tugs within—
Refining these impatient Ores
With Hammer, and with Blaze
Until the Designated Light
Repudiate the Forge—
Affliction is sometimes needed to soften
our hearts as they have been hardened by rebellion. Only when soft,
can they then be molded in that "finer forge" within, which changes
us until our own light shines out and we can leave the "forge"
behind.
Now, back to Isaiah. God, like a good parent, explains the
purpose of His commands to us:
Isaiah 48:17 I the Lord am your God
Instructing you for your own benefit,
Guiding you in the way you should go.
If only you would heed My commands!
Then your prosperity would be like a river,
Your triumph like the waves of the sea.
That about sums the problem up. God offers
man the universe for free, and man, too smart to be tricked, turns
his back; and walks blindly off a cliff. Now listen! God’s servant
is addressing the coastlands:
Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O coastlands,
to me,
And give heed, O nations afar:
The Lord appointed me before I was born,
He named me while I was in my mother’s womb.
He made my mouth like a sharpened blade,
He hid me in the shadow of His hand,
And He made me like a polished arrow;
He concealed me in His quiver
And He said to me, "You are my servant
Israel, in whom I glory."
Isaiah 49:5 And now the Lord has resolved
–
He who formed me in the womb to be His
servant –
To bring back Jacob to Himself,
That Israel may be restored to Him.
The servant’s "mouth is a sharpened blade"
to pierce deeply the enemies of God. The servant must be the final
prophet because he is charged with ‘bringing back Jacob’ (Lost
Israel and faithful Jews) to God, which only happens at the
Messianic end of the age. Therefore, the messianic, final prophet is
also God’s servant of Isaiah. The Jews are already re-gathering to
modern Israel, but Lost Israel needs to be identified and brought
back still. "Bring back Jacob," means reconstituting original
Israel, the two tribes of the South and the lost ten tribes of the
North. This time around they together will make right the wrongs of
the past. Love reigns over judgment and wisdom reigns over
ignorance. Also note the phrase "you are my servant Israel." The
servant is an individual by the context of the passage and it makes
no sense for the nation Israel to be the servant here. Perhaps this
is an error or an addition to the original text? In Jeremiah the
Lord gives further instruction.
Jer. 31:7 For thus said the Lord:
Cry out in Joy for Jacob,
Shout at the head of nations!
Sing aloud in praise and say:
Save, O Lord, your people,
The remnant of Israel . . .
Gather them from the ends of the earth— . .
.
Jer 31:8 In a vast throng they shall
return here.
They shall come with weeping,
And with compassion I will guide them.
Here again, the Lord instructs His servant
to gather the Israel remnant (Lost Ten Tribes) from: "the ends of
the earth," the "head of nations," and the "coastlands afar." The
remnant will return in a "throng," weeping and in need of compassion
and guidance from the Lord. This "vast throng" recalls to us the
great numbers of Abraham’s future offspring who are "as the sand of
the sea" and the "stars in the heavens." In fact, the numerous
people of "Lost Israel" are the fulfillment of this promise
from Melchizedek to Abraham made so long ago. In Jeremiah, the Lord
Melchizedek sets the record straight:
Jer. 31:10 Hear the word of the Lord, O
nations,
And tell it in the coastlands afar.
Say:
He who scattered Israel will gather them,
And will guard them like a shepherd his
flock.
The Lord/Melchizedek scattered Israel and
he will personally shepherd and gather his flock on his return. In
1Enoch, Melchizedek is referred to as the Shepherd. Melchizedek is
our outer physical Shepherd and Jesus is our inner spiritual
Shepherd.
The "head of nations" is referred to as
"the coastlands afar." This is a nation that exists at the time of
Melchizedek’s return possibly sometime in our near future, judging
from developing world and Middle Eastern events. This "head of
nations" is said to be "afar" from the country Israel, which is the
geographic center of Biblical prophecy. What nation might this be?
Let’s look at this word "afar" in some other scripture passages to
see if it is used consistently, cross-section wise, through
scripture:
Jer. 50:41 But you have no fear, My
servant Jacob,
Be not dismayed, O Israel!
I will deliver you from far away . .
.
And Jacob again shall have calm.
Again this people called "Israel" are far
away from Canaan. Notice Jer. 31:10 confirms that ‘Israel’ refers to
the northern tribes who were scattered by God (through the
Assyrians), never yet to have returned. Jacob is the reunified
remnants of Israel and Judah. They have calm because war has been
put to an end and ‘swords are turned into plowshares’ by
Melchizedek’s intervention and sovereignty.
The servant next says:
Isaiah 49:4 I thought, "I have labored in
Vain,
I have spent my strength for empty breath."
But my case rested with the Lord,
My recompense was in the hands of my God.
And now the Lord has resolved –
He who formed me in the womb to be His
servant –
To bring back Jacob to Himself,
That Israel may be restored to Him!
And I have been honored in the sight of the
Lord,
My God has been my strength.
For He has said:
Isaiah 49:6 "It is too little that you
should be My servant
In that I raise up the tribes of Jacob
And restore the survivors of Israel:
I will also make you a light of nations
That my salvation reach the ends of the
earth."
At first the servant feels that his
efforts are "in vain" but notice his total reliance on the Lord. He
cares nothing about human opinions, only God’s. God is the source of
his strength and he is ultimately honored by God with an even
greater service to the nations of the world, in addition to his
service in ‘bringing back Jacob’. The servant experiences an
initial, seeming failure in his mission (I have labored in vain) and
this is why "the Lord desires His servant’s vindication" in Isaiah
42:21. Notice carefully that the servant of this verse has a
specific job to do and that is to "bring back Jacob to Himself
(God), that Israel may be restored to Him!" To do this the
servant must "raise up the tribes to Jacob and restore the survivors
of Israel." This equates to the re-gathering and re-unification of
the original tribes of Israel; the northern Lost Ten Tribes (Israel)
plus the southern tribes (Judah, Jews). This event occurs at the end
of the age before and during the coming of the Messiah. In fact, it
has already started, the Jews are gathering in modern Israel. The
Lost Ten Tribes remain to be identified, re-gathered, and re-united
with the Jews, eventually reconstituting the original whole House of
Israel, as in the beginning. Since the servant is given this task in
Isaiah 49:4, the servant of this passage must be an individual
living at the end of our age which lies shortly ahead of us. Very
likely this servant is one and the same as Malachi’s "Elijah to
come" of the messianic period, the final prophet. Now we have:
Restoration
Isaiah 49:14 Zion says,
The Lord has forsaken me….
I (the Lord) never could forget you
See, I have engraved you
On the palms of My hands,
Your walls are ever before Me.
Swiftly your children are coming;
Those who ravaged and ruined you shall leave
you.
Look up all around you and see:
Isaiah 49:18 They are all assembled, are
come to you!
As I live – declares the Lord.
Zion is the city of David, within
Jerusalem, right next to the Temple Mount, where the Lord has and
will dwell again. Those who "ravage and ruin" leave the city and
Melchizedek gathers Jacob, those who love God, back to Zion. Zion
symbolizes the faithful and true peoples of God. Those ‘who are
assembled’ are the remnants of Lost Israel and the Jews. Also, in
Isaiah 49:14 ‘Zion (Jews) says that the Lord (God) has forgotten
them.’ God answers that he ‘could never forget’ and says: ‘see I
have engraved you on the palms of My hands’ alluding to the
crucifixion marks acquired by His Son Jesus. What a tragic irony,
even as the Jews are feeling forsaken 2000 years ago, God’s presence
in the form of His Son is amongst them, dying in his attempt to
bring them back to God. O, if only we had eyes that could see. And
yet God goes right on attempting to make His people recognize His
love for them by predicting and then bringing about the return of
His people to Canaan after modern Israel is ruined and ravaged in
the future yet to come. Note that the allusion to Jesus' crucifixion
marks is made over 600 years prior to his coming.
Isaiah 49:22 Thus says the Lord God:
I will raise My hand to nations.
And lift up My ensign to peoples;
And they shall bring your sons in their
bosoms,
And carry your daughters on their backs.
Captives shall be taken from a warrior
And spoil shall be retrieved from a tyrant;
For I will contend with
your adversaries,
And I will deliver your children…
Isaiah 49:20 And all mankind shall
know.
That I the Lord am your Savior.
The Mighty One of Jacob, your
Redeemer.
The "Lord" actively intervenes to rescue
his children from the hands of captors and oppressors. "And all
mankind shall know" means this will be a public external event and
not a spiritual metaphor.
Next, the Lord emphasizes that there is no
obstacle to the restoration of Israel and Judah. The covenant
remains unbroken, merely temporarily interrupted. The promises made
to Abraham will all be fulfilled.
Isaiah 50:1 Thus said the Lord:
Where is the bill of divorce?
Of your mother whom I dismissed?
And which of My creditors was it
To Whom I sold you off?
You were only sold off for your sins,
And your mother dismissed for your crimes.
Why, when I came, was no one there,
Why, when I called, would none respond?
Is my arm, then, too short to rescue,
Have I not the power to save?
Thus said the
Lord
Now back again to God's servant:
God's Servant
Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God gave me a
skilled tongue,
To know how to speak timely words to the
weary.
Morning by morning, he rouses,…
Isaiah 50:5 The Lord opened my ears.
And I did not disobey,
I did not run away…
Isaiah 50:6 I did not hide my face
From insult and spittle.
But the Lord God will help me –
therefore I feel no disgrace;
Therefore I have set my face like flint.
I know I shall not be shamed.
My Vindicator is at hand –
Who dare to contend with me?
Let us stand together!…
Isaiah 50:9 Who would be my opponent?
Let him approach me!
Lo the Lord God will help me –
Isaiah 50:10 Who among you reveres the Lord.
And heeds the voice of His servant? –
Though he walk in darkness
And have no light,
Let him trust in the name of the Lord
And rely upon his God.
God Himself has prepared His servant and
trained him. His servant stands fast against his many opponents. He
stands fast against ridicule and personal attacks. He recommends to
those who "revere the Lord" trust and reliance on God alone
during the period of darkness to come. And this reliance on God’s
inner guidance is the very "religion of Jesus" that is to come, the
"true religion" which the servant brings forth in Isaiah 42:1-4.
Once again, "necessity is the mother of invention." We must
trust Him to be led by His spirit during the trial period. Now back
to Isaiah:
Isaiah 51:3 Truly the Lord has comforted
Zion,
Comforted all her ruins;
He has made her wilderness like Eden,
Her desert like the Garden of the Lord.
Gladness and joy shall abide there,
Thanksgiving and the sound of music.
Zion is Jerusalem or geographic Israel
where Melchizedek and those who love God will dwell. This occurs
after the upcoming war against Israel, when this age ends and after
which the "lion lays down with the lamb" and "the wilderness is made
like Eden." Many blessings will be bestowed to a weary world when
Melchizedek takes sovereignty forever.
Now back to justice, the Lord says:
Isaiah 51:1 Listen to Me, you who pursue
justice,
You who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock you were hewn from
Look back to Abraham your father
And to Sarah who brought you forth.
For he was only one when I called him,
But I blessed him and made him many.
We are reminded of Melchizedek’s blessing of Abraham:
Gen 26:4 and in Thy (Abraham’s) seed shall
all the nations be blessed.
and let them (offspring of Abraham)
grow into a multitude in the midst of
the earth.
It would appear that Abraham’s offspring
are found in all the nations, in the midst of the earth. These
offspring go far beyond the bounds of Canaan. Also:
Gen 17:4 You (Abraham) shall be the
Father
of a multitude of nations.
Here it is explicit; Abraham’s offspring
will comprise a multitude of nations. Who are these multitudes and
nations among us?
Joel 4:2 I (Lord) will also gather
all nations, and will bring them
down into the Valley of Jehoshapat, and will
plead with them
there for my people and for my heritage
Israel, whom they
have scattered among the nations, and
parted my land.
This is a reference to a place where "the
Lord" will gather the nations for judgment, the Valley of Jehoshapat.
Israel is once again found scattered among the nations. The parting
of the land probably refers to the partitions and boundaries of
modern Israel as determined by man. The amount of land that the Lord
gave ancient Israel is much bigger than the relatively small area
that they are now confined in. Melchizedek will set this straight
and will give Israel the land he promised them 4000 years ago. Until
then, Israel’s present land holdings will be increasingly claimed by
certain Arab nations with the support of the United Nations and the
United States. Man may propose, but it is God who disposes.
Returning to Isaiah:
Isaiah 51:4 Hearken to Me, My people,
And give ear to Me, O My nation,
For teaching shall go forth from Me,
My way for the light of peoples.
In a moment I will bring it:
The triumph I grant is near,
The success I give has gone forth.
My arms shall provide for the peoples;
The coastlands shall trust in Me,
They shall look to My arm.
The Lord Melchizedek is addressing "Israel"
and the coastlands (neither know him yet) who will learn to trust
him and look to him for assistance. Among other things, Melchizedek
shall teach the world and the earth shall be:
Isaiah 11:9 Full of the knowledge of God
As the waters cover the
sea.
This teaching reminds us of the great
Melchizedek schools of learning discussed in the Urantia Book. Now
back to Isaiah:
Isaiah 51:7 Listen to Me, you who care for
the right,
O people who lay My instruction to heart!
Fear not the insults of men,
And be not dismayed at their jeers;
For the moth will eat them up like a
garment,
The worm shall eat them up like wool.
But My triumph shall endure forever,
My salvation through all the ages.
Those who stand up for "the right" will be
persecuted, ridiculed and harassed. There is no doubt that this
verse refers to a future world where the Lord triumphs forever:
Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, clothe yourself
with splendor,
O arms of the Lord!
Awake as in days of old,
As in former ages!
This is a direct reference to
Melchizedek’s prior semi-material presence among the ancient
Israelites. What was before, will be again:
Isaiah 55:11 So let the ransomed of
the Lord return,
And come shouting to Zion,
Crowned with joy everlasting.
Let them attain joy and gladness,
While sorrow and sighing flee.
The ransomed are those held captive at the
time of Melchizedek’s arrival at which time he declares "their
release" as part of the 10 th Jubilee. They wear crowns because they
are the elect, those who elect God’s will. The crown follows the
elect lineage. This is the joyful reunion of Melchizedek with those
who love God, the remnants of "Israel" and Judah. Melchizedek says:
Isaiah 52:6 Assuredly, My people shall
learn My name,
Assuredly, They shall learn on that day
That I, the One who promised,
Am now at hand.
Melchizedek’s people have lost all
knowledge of him and his selfless service on their behalf. He
returns to us like a father we never knew we had. Judah will wake up
as from a long sleep. Israel will wake up to their true identity and
then to Melchizedek’s unrecognized relationship to themselves
therefore: "My people shall learn My name." "Judah" are the Jews of
modern Israel, but "Israel" remains for us to identify. Now:
Isaiah 52:7 How welcome on the mountains
Are the footsteps of the herald
Announcing happiness,
Heralding good fortune,
Announcing victory,
Telling Zion, "Your God is King!"
The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment, 11Q13,
the Coming of Melchizedek, interprets this verse (Isaiah 52:7)
in the following way. The herald is the final prophet who announces
and "prepares the way of" Melchizedek, just as John the Baptist
announced and "prepared the way of" Jesus. The mountains are
interpreted to be a symbol of the Old Testament Prophets. The final
prophet thus stands on the shoulders of the olden prophets, meaning
that the final prophet bases his message on his interpretation of
Old Testament prophecy. This is why the Teacher of Righteousness,
the leader of the Qumran community of the Dead Sea Scrolls, refers
to this final prophet as the "interpreter of the Law." The "Law"
here being the Old Testament including the prophets. We can now also
understand why the Urantia Book refers to this coming prophet as
"another and greater John the Baptist," because the final prophet,
like John, will announce and "prepare the way of the Lord," this
time the Lord Melchizedek. The prophet proclaims to Zion (all those
faithful to the One God), "your God is King," or rather; "The Lord
Melchizedek is King," as interpreted by the Teacher of Righteousness
in 11Q13 of the Scrolls. 11Q13 is thus an extremely
important document that binds together the Urantia Book and Old
Testament prophecy. It will be discussed again later
in the Dead Sea Scrolls chapter. Continuing with this subject we
also have:
Ps 102:14 You will surely arise and take
pity on Zion,
For it is time to be gracious to her;
The appointed time has come.
For the Lord has built Zion;|
He has appeared in all His glory.
May this be written down for a coming
generation,
That people yet to be created may praise the
Lord.
That "coming generation" is our
generation. The Lord is Melchizedek and the appointed time is the
coming end of this age and the end of man’s sovereignty of this
planet.
Ps 146:10 The Lord shall reign forever
Ps 48:2 The Lord is great and much
acclaimed
in the city of our God
His holy mountain –
fair-crested, joy of all the earth.
Melchizedek is not just for the Judaic
peoples but is for all the earth. Listen to what happens when all
the nations come against modern Israel:
Ps 48:5 The kings (leaders of
nations) joined forces;
they advanced together. (toward Jerusalem)
At the mere sight of it they were stunned,
They were terrified,
they panicked;
They were seized there with a trembling. (my
parentheses)
Whatever it is that stuns these advancing
forces, it very likely has a lot to do with Melchizedek’s arrival,
which will be with "power and glory." What will these attacking
forces see that will so "stun and terrify" them?
Ps 82:1 God stands in the divine
assembly;
among the divine beings He pronounces
judgment.
Here God is confused with Melchizedek.
Melchizedek is indeed among the divine assembly, the four and twenty
counselors on the Urantia council located on Jerusem. We are told
that "only recently has Melchizedek been elevated to the position of
personal ambassador on Jerusem of the Creator Son, bearing the title
Vicegerent and Planetary Prince of Urantia." (UB Pg. 1025). "Recent
rulings handed down from the Most Highs of Edentia, and later
confirmed by the Ancient of Days of Uversa, strongly suggest that
this bestowal Melchizedek is destined to take the place of the
fallen Planetary Prince, Caligastia. If our conjectures in this
respect are correct, it is altogether possible that Melchizedek may
again appear in person on Urantia and in some modified manner
resuming the role of the dethroned Planetary Prince Caligastia." (UB
Pg. 1025) "It appears to certain of our associates that at some time
in the near future the plan of sending one of the twenty-four
counselors to Urantia to act as governors general will be
superseded by the formal arrival of Melchizedek with the vicegerent
mandate of the sovereignty of Urantia…Still others, including this
narrator, look for Melchizedek’s appearance any day or hour."
(UB pg. 1251). Continuing:
Ps 82:8 Arise, O God, judge the
earth,
For all the nations are Your possession.
God is confused here with Melchizedek again. Now, back to Isaiah:
Isaiah 52:8 Hark, your watchmen raise
their voices,
As one they shout for joy;
For every eye shall behold
The Lord’s return to Zion.
Raise a shout together,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the Lord will have His Holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
And the very ends of earth shall see
The victory of our God.
The watchmen are the prophets looking for
Melchizedek’s arrival. Note that this is a very visible
display in "sight of all the nations to the ends of
the earth." What kind of display could be so visible? The last line
again displays the confusion about the Lord Melchizedek and God.
More on the servant now:
Isaiah 52:13 Indeed, My servant
shall prosper,…
Just so he will startle many nations.
Kings shall be silenced
because of him,
For they shall see what has not been told
them,
Shall behold what they never have heard.
The servant will startle many nations and
silence Kings by revealing to them what is in store for them.
There is hardly a decent leader in the
whole world today. Almost all are out for their own gain. As a group
they are the most depraved and ruthless people on the entire planet.
The world is full of wonderful people, but hardly any of them are in
positions of real power. The ruthless crave power and seek it. They
are willing to crush anything or anyone that gets in their way. The
meek are passive and are not willing to trade their soul for power.
But there is a long line of those that will. As in ancient Israel,
the "leaders are misleaders," who lead so many so far astray. God
expects leaders to be the shepherds of His children. What will
happen when judgment comes to the nations and their leaders. The
answer is the same as the one given by Jesus, when he concluded the
parable of the absent landlord (UB p. 1893) and asked, "what will
the lord of the vineyard do to those ungrateful and wicked tenants
(in our example shepherds)?" The present world is based on the
principal Might makes Right. In the world of Melchizedek, King of
Righteousness, the world will be based on Right makes Might.
Next we have a prophecy regarding Jesus:
Isaiah 53:3 He was despised, shunned by
men,
A man of suffering, familiar with disease,
As one who hid his face from us,
He was despised we held him of no account.
Yet it was our sickness that he was bearing
Our suffering that he endured.
We accounted him plagued.
Smitten and afflicted by God:
But he was wounded because of our sins,
Crushed because of our iniquities.
He bore the chastisement that made us whole.
And by his bruises we are healed.
We all went astray like sheep.
Isaiah 53:7 He was maltreated, yet he was
submissive,
He did not open his mouth;
Like a sheep being led to slaughter,…
For he was cut off from the land of the
living…
And his grave was set among the wicked,
And with the rich, in his death –
Though he had done no injustice
And had spoken no falsehood…
He exposed himself to death
And was numbered among the sinners,
Whereas he bore the guilt of the many
And made intercession for sinners.
We would all agree, that this is a
remarkably accurate prophecy. Notice how it just appears out from
within the organic nature of the text. It is right at home in the
text and yet it is the vehicle of a profound distant future
prophesy. The prophetic vision seems to waver in and out of time;
juxtaposing future, past, and present; yet somehow weaving the
strands into a real tapestry in the present of the prophet. Just a
subtle shift in the focus of that "spiritized imagination" of the
poet-prophet and entirely different images go in and out of view. It
would be a little easier if all the good parts were underlined in
red. Also, we notice that perhaps this prophecy is not completely
applicable to Jesus, for instance we know from the Urantia Book that
Jesus was more often of good cheer rather than suffering and that he
was not "familiar with disease" as far as we know. Perhaps these are
attributes of another suffering servant such as the servant that
"brings back Jacob" to the Lord (Melchizedek). And so, we need to be
a little flexible in our work with prophecy because separate strands
can be mixed together. Now to Isaiah:
Restoration
Isaiah 54:2 Enlarge the site of your
tent,
Extend the size of your dwelling,
Do not stint!
Lengthen the ropes, and drive the pegs firm.
For you shall spread out to the right and
the left;
Your offspring shall dispossess nations
And shall people the desolate towns.
The Lord is telling Israel that it’s
offspring, the surviving remnants of "Israel" and "Judah," will
populate whole nations and shall inhabit some of the towns in modern
Israel that are desolated by war. He says further:
Isaiah 54:4 Fear not, you shall not be
shamed;
Do not cringe, you shall not be disgraced.
For you shall forget
The reproach of your youth.
And remember no more
The shame of your widowhood.
For He who made you will espouse you—
His name is "Lord of Hosts;"
The Holy one of Israel will redeem you,
Who is called "God of all the Earth."
Israel’s youth refers to Ancient Israel.
Its ‘disgrace’ and ‘reproach’ are its going astray and
its subsequent destruction and dispersion. I think ‘widowhood’
refers to Israel’s loss of her symbolic spouse, God, and His
agent Melchizedek. However, the fall from God’s grace is only
temporary (2500 years) and "He who made you (Israel) will espouse
you" again. Notice the play on the word spouse in ‘espouse’. Now,
the Lord will restore the people to its land and to its proper place
among mankind. Note the last phrase ‘who is called God of the
Earth.’ This is fairly close to the meaning of a World Messiah
or Planetary Prince. And so:
Restoration, 3 rd Temple
Isaiah 54:11 Unhappy,storm-tossed one,
uncomforted!
I will set your stones in fair colors
And make your foundations of sapphires.
I will make your battlements of
rubies,
Your gates of precious stones,
The whole encircling wall of gems.
And all your children shall be disciples
of the Lord,
And great shall be the happiness of your
children;
You shall be established through
righteousness.
You shall be safe from oppression,
And shall have no fear;
From ruin, and it shall not come near you.
Surely no harm can be done
Without My consent:
Whoever would harm you
Shall fall because of you.
Here, God assures His people, ‘storm
tossed one (Israel)’ that they will be safe once and for all
time. Perhaps God will direct through Melchizedek the making of a
new temple on the temple mount; made with gems, rubies and
sapphires. Further:
Isaiah 55:1 Ho, all who are thirsty,
Come for water,
Even if you have no money;
Come, buy food and eat:
Buy food without money,
Wine and milk without cost.
Why do you spend money for what is not
bread,
Your earnings for what does not satisfy?
Here, we get a glimpse of the bounty and
blessings that will ensue with restoration. Again, people are
thirsty because of drought in the latter days.
Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear and come
to Me;
Hearken, and you shall be revived.
And I will make with you an everlasting
covenant,
So you shall summon a nation you did not
know,
And a nation that did not know you
Shall come running to you –
For the sake of the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel who has glorified
you.
This is a wide open offer from God – He
forever hopes that we will come to Him so that we can become
all that He means for us to become. ‘He becomes what we are to make
us what He is (UB p. 1664)’ Why is it so hard for God to give His
children the greatest gift they could ever receive – The Kingdom of
Heaven within and the Grand Universe throughout. If God were a
door-to-door salesman, on this planet He would probably have lost
his job long ago for lack of subscribers.
The second half of this stanza introduces
a nation that will ‘come running’ to assist Israel ‘for the
sake of the Lord our God.’ We will see that this nation and this
people will assist in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem:
Temple
Zech 6:12 Thus says the Lord of Hosts:
You Joshua behold
the Messiah whose name is the Branch, for He
shall
grow up in His place and He shall build the
true
temple of the Lord. (Amplified Bible)
Zech 6:13 Yes, (Joshua you are building
a temple of the Lord,
but) it is He (the Lord, the Messiah) who
shall build
the true temple of the Lord, and He
shall bear the honor
and glory and shall sit and rule upon His
throne. And
He shall be a Priest upon His throne, and
the council of
peace shall be between the two. (Amplified
Bible)
Zech 6:15 And they that are afar
off shall come and build the
temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that
the Lord of
Hosts hath sent me unto you. And this will
come to pass,
if ye will diligently obey the voice of the
Lord your God.
(Amplified Bible)
Joshua was the leader who presided over the building of the
second Temple after the seventy-year exile of the Judahites in
Babylon. This scripture explicitly identifies the true Temple
as being built by the Lord Messiah. This temple will be the third
and last, as it will endure throughout time. Another Messiah is also
called the Branch, the anointed human being from the branch of
David. However, the Urantia Book tells us that David’s legacy is
mostly a fabrication of the exiled Jewish priests in Babylon during
the Babylonian captivity. Therefore, I feel comfortable
downgrading statements referring to David. The Messiah is also
identified as a Priest that sits and rules upon his throne as a
King. This would fit Melchizedek perfectly as he is both the "Priest
of the Most High" in Genesis and the "King of Righteousness," the
"King of Righteousness" being the literal translation of Melchizedek
in Hebrew.
Gen 14:17 After Abraham’s return from the
defeat of Chedorlaomer… (Amplified Bible)
Gen 14:18 Melchizedek King of Salem
(later
Jerusalem) brought out bread and
wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
(Amplified Bible)
Gen 14:19 And he (Melchizedek) blessed
him
and said, Blessed be Abraham by
God Most High, Maker of
heaven
and earth. (Amplified
Bible)
Gen 14:20 And blessed, praised and
glorified
be God Most High. Who has given
your foes into your hand!… (Amplified
Bible)
It is important to remember that Jesus
knew and stated that he was not the Messiah of Jewish expectation
(Urantia Book). ‘My Kingdom is not of this world.’ More about this
later. We also note that these lines of Zechariah also attest to the
presence of ‘those who are far off’ coming to assist in the building
of the true Temple. These people are probably from the ‘nation that
did not know you’ who ‘shall come running to you’ (Isaiah 55:5) and
will be identified later. Before leaving the topic, here are a few
more lines of scripture about this Temple:
Tobit 14:1 And that again (after the
Babylonian exile) God will
have mercy on them, and bring them into the
land, where
they shall build a temple (the second
temple), but not like the
first, until the time of that age be
fulfilled (AD 70); and
afterward they shall return from all
the places of their
captivity, and build up Jerusalem gloriously
(the third true
temple) and the bust of God shall be
built in it for ever
with a glorious building, as the prophets
have spoke thereof.
"Afterward" refers to the end of this age,
coming upon us now. The "captivity" ends when Melchizedek arrives.
The information in the parentheses is my
own. The major point here is the consistent description of
this event across a multitude of scriptural sources. I have tried to
find information that is attested to in a cross section of multiple
scriptural sources. By doing this, I hope to avoid errors due to
erroneous material. The amazing thing that I have found is the
high degree of consistency that is present within such a diverse
body of scriptural sources. This consistency is also a feature
of the Urantia Book’s "ring of truth." Finally, regarding the
Temple, we have:
Temple
Ezek 40:2 The hand of the Lord came upon
me (Ezekiel) and He brought
me in visions of God, to the Land of Israel,
and He set
me down on a very high mountain…
Ezek 47:1 He led me back to the entrance
of the Temple and I found
that water was issuing from below the Temple
Mount…The water was running out at the
south of the
altar, under the south wall of the Temple…it
was a stream
that could not be crossed except by
swimming…everything
will live wherever this stream goes, the
fish will be abundant,
all kinds of trees for food will grow on
both banks, their
leaves will not wither or their fruit fail;
they will yield new
fruit every month, because the water for
them flows from
the Temple. Their fruit will serve for food
and their leaves
for healing.
"On May 15th, 1999, the Israeli newspaper,
Hatsofer, reported that water had started flowing from beneath
the Temple Mount…The Arab leaders have done everything possible
to stop the flow of water, including special pumps they brought in
for the purpose. The Arab leaders have been busy with intensive
excavations on the Temple Mount, the purpose of which is to destroy
the last remains of the First and Second Temples and in this way
deny the Jewish identity of the Temple Mount. According to one
account, during these diggings they broke into one of the many water
sources under the Temple Mount." (Prophecy Flash magazine,
Triumph Prophetic Ministries)
Here, those acting in defiance of God’s
plan are the very ones who help bring it about. We can take part in
God’s plans willingly and knowingly, or unwillingly and unknowingly,
have it as we may. The choice of role is ours, the script is His.
Isaiah then says:
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He can be
found,
Call to Him while He is near.
Let the wicked give up his ways,
The sinful man his plans;
Let him turn back to the Lord,
And he will pardon him;
To our God,
For He freely forgives.
This is the bottom line. In the time of
trials ahead seek God and learn to choose his will. Our physical
well-being is truly trivial in importance compared to matters of the
soul. We will come closer to God as we learn to rely on Him and
trust Him. It is not God’s desire that anyone be lost from the
kingdom, His family. He will not tolerate sin and/or iniquity but
His way is always open to anyone who sincerely seeks it.
Isaiah 55:8 For My plans are not your
plans,
Nor are My ways your ways
-declares the
Lord.
But as the heavens are high above the earth,
So are My ways high above your ways
And My plans above your plans.
For as the rain or snow drops from heaven
And returns not there,
But soaks the earth
And makes it bring forth vegetation,
Yielding seed for sowing and bread for
eating,
So is the word that issues from My mouth:
It does not come back to Me unfulfilled,
But performs what I purpose,
Achieves what I sent it to do.
Yea, you shall leave in joy and be led home
secure.
Before you, mount and hill shall shout
aloud,
And all the trees of the field shall clap
their hands.
Instead of the briar, a cypress shall rise;
Instead of the nettle, a myrtle shall rise.
These shall stand as a testimony to the
Lord,
As an everlasting sign that shall not
perish.
This is one of my favorite passages in
Isaiah. God’s ways are often 180 degrees opposite man’s ways.
When man learns to seek His perspective on issues he becomes wise
and when man learns to choose God’s choices he becomes transformed
by the realization of his now living relationship with God. Also, in
this passage, God is showing us the majesty and complete mastery
that flows from His will. God is the source of all reality and
reality is the garden growing from the seeds of God’s words. But
in God’s reality, freedom to choose reigns supreme, for
without freedom there can be no love and without love there can be
no purpose. As a result, God’s omnipotence aside, seeds other than
good are sometimes sown and since God’s sun shines on the good and
the bad, the harvest is not always good. But everything is given its
season, and at the harvest’s end, the weeds are bundled up and
thrown into the fire and the wheat is stored away. And so, God
self-limits His omnipotence to allow for love, for without love
there would be no sons and no daughters, and no reason to have a
universe.
Isaiah 56:1 Thus said the Lord:
Observe what is right and do what is just;
Happy is the man who does this,
The man who holds fast to it:
And stays his hand from doing any evil.
This seems to be a pretty simple request. Why is it so hard?
Isaiah 56:3 Let not the foreigner say,
Who has attached himself to the Lord,
"The lord will keep me apart from His
people;"
And let not the eunuch say,
"I am a withered tree."
I will give them, in My House
And within My walls,
A monument and a name
Better than sons or daughters.
I will give them an everlasting name
Which shall not perish.
God’s way is for all and any who will come –
regardless of any other factor.
Isaiah 56:7 I will bring them
(foreigners) to My sacred mount
And let them rejoice in My house of prayer.
For My House shall be called
A house of prayer for all peoples.
Thus declares the Lord God,
Who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
"I will gather still more to those
already gathered."
Note again the universality of God’s love.
There is also another reference to the dispersed of Israel.
Most importantly, God’s kingdom or family is for all peoples, all
races, all religions, and for all time. Let’s pause here and
consider that mysterious word ‘Israel.’
"Israel"
With the single word "Israel" one can
discuss the entire past and future history of the world. We remember
that Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, gave rise to the twelve tribes of
Israel by virtue of his twelve sons. Moses, their great leader, led
these twelve tribes through the desert from Egypt to the Land of
Canaan. During their forty year desert journey scripture describes
this group of Israelites as a rebellious group in the main. In fact,
no sooner had Moses gone up the mountain to receive the Ten
Commandments, than the people down below had begun to sacrifice to
pagan gods. At the entrance to the Promised Land Moses died
before entering, leaving his people in the hands of Joshua. After
entrance into the Promised Land, Israel gradually coalesced into a
united monarchy for several generations, before dividing up into
northern and southern factions; Israel and Judah. Blessed by God’s
bounty and fruitfulness the community thrived. But as their
hunger was satisfied and their lives became secure, they walked away
from the moral strictures of their covenant with God. The
prophets tell us that they turned away from truth, became arrogant
and full of pride, and ceased to practice justice. They knowingly
ignored God’s commandments and worshipped false gods, becoming
sexually promiscuous and deceitful. The weak and powerless went
without protection, while knowledge and mercy disappeared. The
Northern Israelites went astray before the Southern Judahites. The
Northern Israelites were composed of the northern ten tribes.
Ephraim and Manasseh were the two foremost tribes among the ten
northern tribes for reasons discussed previously. Ephraim, the
most blessed, led the way to destruction. These northern ten
tribes, having separated themselves from God, were also separated
from His guidance. They walked away from God and into disaster
called the Assyrians, despite being warned and pleaded with by their
prophets. At first, many of the Northern Israelites went into
captivity in Assyria. Afterward they migrated north losing their
identify and origins never to return. However, prophetic scripture
continues to speak about a future, re-identified Lost Israel that
plays an important role in events still to come at the end of our
age. By looking at the various characteristics of this group of
people described in scripture, we can glean something of this
group’s identity. Let’s start by looking at where they go
upon dispersion and where they come from in their future
re-gathering to give us some hints as to who they may be. Ephraim is
often used in scripture to refer to Israel because they make up the
great majority of the population of the Lost Ten Tribes. First
consider where the Northern Tribes are dispersed to:
Amos 9:9 I (God) will give the order
And shake the House of Israel –
Through all the nations –
As one shakes a sieve.
Ezek 5:10 I will scatter your survivors
in every direction.
Ezek 5:14 I will make you a ruin
and a mockery among the nations.
Micah 5:7 The remnant of Jacob shall be,
In the midst of many peoples
Like dew from the Lord.
This dispersion is all over the world.
Also notice the word remnant. The remnant is a small portion of the
population of "Israel" and is the faithful segment, which will be
gathered to "The Lord" and returned to the Land of Canaan at the end
of the age. The same applies for the remnant of Judah (the Jews).
The remnant is what is left over after whatever happens, happens.
Their survival is dependent on their receptivity to God’s inner
guidance through the indwelling spirit, and by God’s outer guidance
through His chosen prophet whom he always provides. Now, lets be
more specific about where the Israel remnant will come from when
re-gathered at the end of the age.
Jer 31:10 Hear the word of the Lord, O
Nations,
And tell it in the coastlands afar.
Say:
He who scattered Israel will gather them.
Jer 46:27 Be not dismayed, O Israel!
I will deliver you from afar.
Ezek 6:8 I will leave a remnant
of you that shall escape
from the sword among
the nations and be scattered
through the land.
Ezek 4:13 The people shall eat
their bread, unclean,
among the nations I will
banish them to.
Ezek 11:17 I have scattered them
among the countries.
Again, we have a generalized scattering of
Lost Israel among all the nations, and also in the coastlands, among
gentiles who eat unclean bread more specifically. Let’s see further
where they are gathered from now:
Isaiah 11:12 He (the Lord) will hold up a
signal to the nations
and assemble the banished of Israel
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
Jer 23:3 And I Myself (Melchizedek) will gather the
remnant of My flock
from all the lands that I banished them.
Isaiah 24:15 Therefore, honor the Lord with
lights
In the coastlands of the sea…
From the ends of the earth
We hear singing:
Glory to the Righteous One (Melchizedek)
Also, lets not forget God’s servant,
previously discussed, as related to these coastlands:
Isaiah 42:1 This is My servant, whom I
uphold,…
He shall bring forth the true way…
And the coastlands shall await his
teaching.
And so we see clearly that coastlands and
isles from afar are a major location for this group of people called
"Israel." Now let’s try to get even more specific:
Jer 3l:7 For thus said the Lord:
Cry out in joy for Jacob,
Shout at the Chief of the Nations!
Sing aloud in praise and say:
The Lord has saved His people
The remnant of Israel.
Jer 31:10 Hear the word of the Lord, O
Nations
Isaiah 43:3 Bring my sons from afar,
And my daughters from the end of the earth –
Isaiah 60:9 To bring your sons from
afar,
And their silver and gold as well –
Afar is repeated often enough to
note. Afar and ends of the earth would seem to mean
just that. The Chief of Nations is the leading nation at the time of
the ending of the age, which I believe is now approaching. Afar,
of course, is far from Canaan the point of reference. Next consider:
Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O coastlands,
to me,
And give head, O Nations afar.
Isaiah 60:9 Surely, the isles and
distant coastlands
shall wait for and expect Me;
and the ships of Tarshish (large ships) will
come first
to bring your sons from afar.
Isaiah 24:13 For thus it will be among
the peoples
In the midst of the earth…
Isaiah 24:14 These shall lift up their
voices,
Exult in the Majesty of the Lord
They shall shout from the sea:
Again these nations are far away from
geographic Israel, across a sea, have coasts, and are inhabited by
gentiles (non-Jewish) and their major faction lives in the Chief
of Nations. These are fairly specific characteristics when taken
together. Let’s also consider "Israel’s" general spiritual
characteristics.
In general this is a large multitude of
people who are scattered all over the world with a main
concentration in the Chief of Nations, a coastland across the sea.
The remnant self-selects themselves by being receptive to the
inner leading and guidance of God amidst the trials of the latter
days, shortly to begin. "Israel" in the broadest sense is any and
all of these persons who choose to follow God’s inner and outer
guidance, and who refuse to sink into the chaos and depravity of
those around them. God chooses all people! Only some people
choose God. "God’s people" are not an elite, or racially defined
group, they are simply those who have chosen to do His will.
This is not to say, that there are no genetic or environmental
factors that condition the individuals’ responsiveness and
receptivity to God’s inner and outer leadings. There are, but they
are never the sole determinants or most important factors involved.
Jer 3l:10 And tell it in the
coastlands afar.
Say:
He who scattered Israel will gather
them,
Now we have a nation that is far away from
Canaan, across the sea that has coasts and is addressed as the
chief of nations. The United States certainly could be this
nation. This nation seems to have a major contingent of these called
"Israel."
Another, frequent term, isles of the sea,
could be the British Isles. Lets not forget about other locations as
well for this people "Israel":
Jer 3l:8 I (the Lord) will bring
them from the northland,
Gather them from the ends of the earth.
The blind and the lame among them…
In a vast throng they will return here
(Canaan…)
Jer 31:9 They will come with weeping
(in joy and repentance)
And with compassion will I guide them.
Isaiah 11:10 In that day, My Lord will
apply His hand to redeeming the
part outside the Holy Land, from Assyria –
as also from
Egypt, Pathros Nubia, Elam, Shinar, Hamath
and the
coastlands. He will hold up a signal to the
nations.
The most important factor is
always the individual’s willingness or unwillingness
to give precedence to God’s will, ways, laws and leadings (to
the best of each individual’s capacity to understand these).
Now, let’s look at some other descriptive terms related to our
mystery entity "Israel:"
Isaiah 10:22 Even if your people, O Israel,
Should be as the sands of the sea,
Only a remnant shall return.
Hosea 2:1 The number of people of Israel
shall be
like the sands of the sea, which
cannot
be measured or counted.
Gen 22:17 The angel of the Lord
(Melchizedek) called to Abraham…
I will bestow my blessings on you and make
your descendants as numerous as the stars
of heaven and the sands on the
seashore.
Deut 33:16 Let these blessings come upon
the head of Joseph
(Ephraim and Manasseh)
with the precious things of the earth and
its fullness
and favor of the goodwill of Him.
Deut 33:17 Like a firstling bull Joseph’s
majesty is,…
And these are the myriads of Ephraim
and
those are the thousands of Manasseh.
(Joseph’s blessings transmitted to his two
sons
Ephraim and Manasseh)
Ephrai double fruitfulness, 2nd son of Joseph.
"for God has made him (Joseph)
Easton’s Bible fruitful in the land of his affliction." (Egypt)
Dictionary
What I’ve tried to show here is that the
blessing from the "Lord" (Melchizedek) to Abraham for numerous
descendants, as the "sands of the sea," passes from Abraham, through
Isaac, through Jacob, and through Joseph to Ephraim and to a lesser
extent Manasseh. The great majority of distant future descendants
are from Ephraim (the most blessed and fruitful). This is why
Ephraim is used at times to designate the "lost ten tribes of
Israel." Therefore, "Ephraim" and "Joseph" used in a prophetic sense
refer to the same entity as "Israel." Also note, that it is a
small remnant of "Israel" which returns to Canaan in the latter
days.
For now, suffice it to say that "Israel" is a far-flung group
of people who are very numerous, some of which live in the
coastlands afar and the isles of the sea. Further:
Deut 33:13-17 And of Joseph it is said:…
On the crown of the elect
of his brothers…
He has thorns like the horns of
the wild-ox;
with them, he
shall push the peoples,
all of them, to the ends of the
earth. (Amplified Bible)
Gen 22:15-17 The Angel of the Lord
called to Abraham…
and said;…your seed will possess the
gates of His enemies.
Horns symbolize power. To possess the gate
of ones enemies means to control the strategic locations of military
power. These statements tell us that Joseph’s offspring
(Ephraim/Israel) will have great power on the earth with the ability
to conquer and control their enemies. Consider that Great Britain
had the most far-flung empire in the history of the world and that
America is the present reigning superpower. Also, Joseph (Lost
Israel) is prophesied to have great bounty, great increase, great
blessings of land, crops, and natural resources and fruitfulness.
America is the land founded on God’s great blessings and strength.
"God Bless America," "in God we Trust," "America the Beautiful"
were frequently used phrases. Also:
O Beautiful for
Spacious Skies
For Amber Waves of Grain
For Purple Mountain Majesty
Above the Fruited Plain
America, America God Shed His Grace on
Thee
And Crown Thy Good with
Brotherhood…
The fruitfulness, bounty, and blessings
of America are unparalleled in the history of the world. Could
the prophets have been addressing us; here, today and now? Are we
the inheritors of Joseph’s and Ephraim’s God given bounty,
fruitfulness, and military power? Are we the distant coastlands,
across the sea from whence the servant will speak? Are we the "Chief
of Nations?" Are we the latter days Ephraim of prophetic scripture?
Now, let’s try to trace the physical path of "Israel" after
they are conquered by the Assyrians.
4Ezra 13:39 And as for your seeing him (the
"Lord") gather to
himself another multitude that was
peaceable, these
are the ten tribes, which were led
away from their own
land into captivity in the days of King
Hosea, when
Shalmanesser, the king of the Assyrians led
captive;
he took them across a river, and they were
taken into
another land. But they formed this plan for
themselves,
that they would leave the multitude of
nations and go to
a more distant region, where mankind had
never lived,
that there they at least might keep
their statutes which
they had not kept in their own land. And
they went up
the narrow passages
4Ezra 13:43 of the Euphrates river…through
that region there was
a long way to go, a journey for a year
and a half.
Jer 3l:18 I (the Lord) can hear
Ephraim (Israel) lamenting:
‘You have chastised me, and I am chastised’…
Truly Ephraim is a dear son to Me,
A child that is dandled!
Whenever I have spoken against him,
My thoughts would dwell on him still.
That is why my heart yearns for him;
I will receive him back in love.
declares the
Lord.
Jer 3l:4 Erect markers,
Set up way marks,
Keep in mind the highway,
the road that you traveled.
Return maiden Israel!
Return to these towns of yours!
In these passages the Northern Tribes, "Israel" leave Canaan to
Assyria and then later go north up the Euphrates River for a one and
a half year journey. Where did they go? They are told to leave
"markers and way marks" as they go so that they can later return by
the same route (during the messianic regathering). Let’s pick up
this story in the evidences of recorded history. Here are some
quotes from a leading researcher on the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel,
Yair Davidy: (See Appendices A, B, and C for a graphic deisplay).
"The word translated
above (Jer 31:4) as "way marks" in the original
Hebrew is "Tzionim" which strictly speaking
means "signs"
but in spoken Hebrew is usually used
to denote a stone
erection, marking a grave or event." (Yair
Davidy, Ephraim)
"Amongst the Classical Authoritative
Rabbinical Commentators
the most literal explanation of this verse
is that given by the
"Radak." (Rabbi David Kimchi, 1157-1236
A.D.) of Marbonne,
France. (Yair Davidy, Ephraim)
"Set yourself up way
marks" –
"This was directed to the community of
Israel, that in the
generation when they would be exiled, they
should set up
way marks such as piled up stones or
stone monuments to
recognize the path of migration, meaning
to say that even
though you will be exiled hope is not lost
and you are still
destined to return to these your cities."
(Radak on Jeremiah 31)
(Yair Davidy, Ephraim)
"The ancient Hebrews
are recorded setting up stones as
monuments. Jacob set up a pillar and
anointed it. Heaps
of stones, or one stone upon another are
collectively
referred to as "dolmens" and are found in
Israel and
Western Europe. The intentions of
these monuments
was to commemorate some event. (Yair Davidy,
Ephraim)
‘The megalithic dolmens
found in the Golan and Galilee
are table like structures composed of two
vertical basalt
blocks roofed by large rock horizontal
slabs.’
(Mazar, A. "Archeology of the Land of the
Bible, 10,000 –
586 BCE", 1990) (Yair Davidy, Ephraim)
"Dolmens and related
monuments are found in the land of
Israel, Jordan, Caucasus, Spain, France,
Britain and Scandinavia."
(Yair Davidy, Ephraim)
"There are several
types of dolmens and examples have also
been reported from Ethiopia, Japan, India,
and North Africa.
The type of dolmen found in ancient
Israel is the same as that
found in Western Europe." (Yair Davidy’s,
Ephraim ).
In addition there are volumes of research
and facts that support the close relationship between ancient Israel
and Northwestern Europe. This research comes from Talmudic
scholarship, archeology, linguistics, recorded history, and
folklore. The Northern Ten Tribes, the Israelites, were dispersed
first to Assyria and then traveled northward to populate Northern
and Western Europe and then later on came to America. These Lost Ten
Tribes of Israel have carried with them, wherever they have gone,
their ancient blessings from God. These blessings went from God,
to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh,
to Northern Israel, to the Lost Ten Tribes, to Northwestern Europe
and finally to America. But just as in the beginning, blessings
have not been recognized and appreciated, and have not kept those
who are blessed from going astray. It was Ephraim of ancient
Israel, the most blessed, who went first and farthest astray. It is
Ephraim again who goes astray. Ephraim is America. The end is like
the beginning. American history is repeating Northern Israel’s
ancient history.
I think one can make a strong case that
"Israel" has large populations in North America, Great Britain,
Northern and Western Europe, and the off shoots of the prior British
Empire, i.e. Australia and New Zealand among others. In addition,
"like the dew of the Lord," smaller populations are located among
many if not all the other nations. One might reasonably consider
that "Israel" is closely related to Christendom itself. The total
population of this "Israel" is probably in the billions. Biblical
references to offspring as numerous as "the stars in the sky" and
the "sands of the sea" are now comprehensible. God’s promises to
Abraham have been, are being, and will be fulfilled. Now we
appreciate the immensity of "Ephraim’s myriads." Suddenly,
the Bible is no longer just an "old fashioned book" about
meaningless events in the distant past that involve other people.
"Israel" is Christendom today and "Judah" is modern, geographic
Israel of re-gathering Jews. Future "Israel" will be all those who
desire to do God’s will. Future "Israel" will be composed of the
faithful remnants of Christians and Jews and all others who
desire to do God’s will. God has been announcing his plans from
long ago. The history of "Israel" is in fact the history of the
world; past, present and future. And God’s history of the world
is a strange history. It is told before, not after, the historical
events occur. This does not mean that our lives and
history are predetermined. We freely choose all of our own actions,
but God transcends time and space and his infinite mind foreknows
how we will freely choose. We are free to choose and God is free
to foreknow our choices. This is similar to a parent who can
predict in advance what his children will do in various situations.
The immensity, absoluteness, and infinitude of God’s mind are far
beyond human imagination. We are left in awe of this Infinite
Being who turns to us the face of a loving Father and knows the
number of hairs on our individual heads. Lets now return to the
Isaiah narrative:
Isaiah 56:6 As for the foreigners
Who attach themselves to the Lord,
To minister to Him
And to love the name of the Lord,
To be his servants –
Isaiah 56:7 I will bring them to My
sacred mount
And let them rejoice in My house of prayer,
"For My house shall be called
A house of prayer for all peoples."
Thus says the Lord God,
Who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
"I will gather still more to those already
gathered."
God himself is being quoted here by the
prophet. Isaiah presents his inspired collaboration with Melchizedek
with a certainty of mind beyond mere human assurance. God is clear:
anyone who would, can come. He is a loving father,
actively pursuing the embrace of every mortal being in the
world. The eternal covenant is open to all who have faith
and who would follow God’s Ways and Will. Man is not absolved of
suffering, but he is lifted up over it, in the "peace that surpasses
all understanding." And this is the "kingdom of heaven" that is
"within" as spoken of by the Son of Man. What are God’s Ways? What
would God have us do? Here is God’s answer through His inspired
prophets. We will first review the Old Covenant with its external
commands and then the New Covenant with its internal guidance.
Together they are the Way of God.
God’s Way – External Commandments/Old Covenant
Genesis 17:3-8 God (Melchizedek) spoke to
Abraham, "This is my
Covenant with you: You shall be the
father of a
multitude of nations…I assign…all
the land of Canaan,
as an everlasting holding (to
Abraham and his offspring.)"
Genesis 26:2-4 The Lord (Melchizedek)
appeared to him (Abraham) and said,
"…I will make your descendants as
numerous as the stars of
heaven…"
Exodus 192-5 Moses went up (Mount Sinai)
to God (Melchizedek).
The Lord called to him "Say to the
House of Jacob…
If you will obey Me faithfully
and keep My covenant,
you shall be My treasured possession
among all the peoples."
Exodus 20:7-14 "You shall not swear falsely
by the name of the Lord
your God…Remember the Sabbath and keep
it holy…
honor your father and mother…You shall
not murder…
commit adultery…steal…bear false
witness…covet your
neighbor’s house…or covet your
neighbor’s wife."
Deut 30:15 Behold, I have set before
thee this day life and death,
good and evil. If thou wilt hearken to
the commands of
the Lord thy God, which I command thee
this day, to
love the Lord thy God, to walk in all
his ways, and to
keep his ordinances, and his judgments;
then ye shall
live, and shall be many in number, and
the Lord thy God
shall bless thee in all the land
into which thou goest to
inherit. But if thy heart change,
and thou wilt not hearken,
and thou shalt go astray and worship
other gods, and serve
them, I declare to you this day, that
ye shall utterly perish,
and ye shall by no means live long upon
the land, into which
ye go over Jordan to inherit it.
I call both heaven
and earth to witness this day against
you, I have set before you life and
death, the blessing and
the curse: choose thou life, that thou
and thy seed may live;
to love the Lord thy God, to hearken to
his voice, and cleave
to him; for this is thy life, and the
length of thy days, that thou
shouldest dwell upon the land, which
the Lord sware to thy
fathers; Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,
to give to them.
In Genesis 17, the multitude of nations
are the nations of Christendom today.
The "land of Canaan" given by the Lord is a much larger area of
land than the present modern Israel. It is an everlasting gift from
God, who keeps his promises.
It is interesting to read Leviticus 26:14-45 (not presented
here) as well. This extended passage (26:14-45 Leviticus) sets forth
all the bad things that will happen to the Israelites if the
commandments are not upheld. All of these pronouncements or ‘curses’
eventually do happen to Israel as their subsequent history is
characterized by perpetual unfaithfulness. The Urantia Book confirms
this unfaithfulness to the covenant.
UB p. 1910 Israel had repudiated the Son
of the God (Melchizedek) who had made a
covenant with Abraham, and the plan to make
the children of
Abraham the light-bearers of truth to the
world had been
shattered. The divine covenant had been
abrogated, and the
end of the Hebrew nation drew on apace.
Notice above that it is God's
covenant. Melchizedek, the Son of God, brings it to Abraham.
This is why Melchizedek is referred to as "the messenger of the
covenant" in Malachi.
Mal 3:1 Behold…the Lord whom ye
seek, shall suddenly come to
(KJV) his temple, even the messenger of the covenant,
whom ye
delight in: behold he shall come.
This verse in Malachi is a prophecy
written 2500 years ago of Melchizedek’s return in the "latter days,"
now just ahead. "The Lord whom you seek" is the messenger of the
covenant, who in turn is Melchizedek. Once again, by a different
route, we show that "the Lord" can be identified as Melchizedek in
scripture. Once again, the Urantia Book opens up scripture for
us, supplying the critical clue as above.
The Urantia
Book confirms this everlasting covenant with Abraham and
Abraham’s offspring "Israel." The Jewish people have not been
abandoned by God, they are still a vital part of God’s unfolding
plan.
UB P. 1020 This covenant of Melchizedek
and Abraham represents the
great Urantian agreement between divinity
and humanity whereby
God agrees to do everything; man only agrees
to believe God’s
promises and follow his instructions.
Note here that the Urantia Book redefines
"Israel" to mean all of humanity. Anyone who would come, can come.
The word Israel takes on different, but mutually consistent,
meanings in different contexts throughout the Bible. Each meaning is
like a separate ‘transparency,’ one lain over the next, one by one.
The final meaning is a four dimensional entity sculpted out of space
and time and is comprised of all of those who desire to do God’s
Will, which is God’s Way. Now, lets continue with God’s Way and what
He requires of us by way of external commands:
Isaiah 56:1 Observe what is right and do
what is just.
Hosea 6:6 I desire goodness – not sacrifice
Obedience to God, not burnt offerings
Hosea l0:l2 "Sow righteousness for
yourselves;
Reap the fruits of goodness:"…
You have plowed wickedness,
You have reaped iniquity –
And you shall eat the fruits of treachery –
Because you relied on your way
Amos 6: Spare me the sound of your
hymns.
But let justice well up like water
and
Righteousness like an unfailing
stream.
Micah 6 He has told you, O man, what is good…
Only to do justice
And to love goodness
And to walk humbly with your God.
Zech 8:16 Speak truth to one
another
Render true and perfect justice in
your gates…
Love honesty and integrity
Deut l8:l3 You must be wholehearted
with the Lord your God.
Isaiah 58:4 You fast in strife and contention,
And you strike with a wicked fist!…
Isaiah 58:6 This is the fast that I
desire:
To unlock the fetters of wickedness,
And untie the cords of the yoke
To let the oppressed go Free;
To break off every yoke…
To share your bread with the hungry,
And to take the wretched poor into your
home;
When you see the naked, clothe him…
Then your light will burst through like the
dawn
And your healing will spring up quickly…
Then when you call, the Lord will answer;
When you cry, He will say: Here I am.
Jer 9:23 For I the Lord act with
kindness,
Justice and equity in the
world;
For in these I delight
Hosea l2:7 You must return to your God!
Practice goodness and justice,
And constantly trust in your God.
Continuing the theme of God’s Way; i.e. God’s Will, His people
shall:
Damascus Document They shall love each
man as his brother;
They shall succor the poor,
the needy, and the stranger…
Dead Sea Scrolls They shall bear no rancor from
one day to the next…
100 BCE No man shall
defile his holy spirit…
Deut l0:l2 And now, Israel, what does
the Lord your God, require of you,
but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in
His ways and to love
Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all
your heart and with
all your soul, to keep the commandments of
the Lord, and His statutes,
which I command you this day for your good.
(Moses to Israelites)
And so, God tells us through his prophets
what He wants of us; very simply and very clearly. But for most of
mankind these instructions are unappealing! After all, aren’t
we free? Sovereigns of our own destiny? Aren’t we able to
choose our own paths without any assistance from anyone, including
the infinite and loving Being we call God? Little do we realize that
we throw away infinity for an illusion, never suspecting the
treasure buried within, encased in fear and subverted by pride. Only
by paradox, can the infinite be alluded to because true freedom
is "slavery" to God’s will, for such slavery is a slavery of love,
that unshackles every yoke of human limitation. The very
intention of God’s Will is love.
We have considered the old covenant between God and man. Now
lets turn to the new covenant. We move from external, negative
commands to internal, positive guidance.
Kingdom of Heaven Within, the New Covenant,
Internal Guidance, the true way, the gospel and message of Jesus
Jer 3l:3 But such is the covenant I
will make
With the House of Israel after these days –
Declares the Lord: I will put My Teaching
Into their inmost being and
inscribe it
Upon their hearts. Then I will be their
God, and
They shall be My people.
Isaiah 30:20 Then your Guide will no more be ignored, and
your
Eyes will watch your Guide; and,
whenever you
Deviate to the right or to the left, your
ears
Will heed the command from behind (within)
you:
"This is the road; follow it!"
Proverbs l:23 …behold, I will put my
spirit unto you. I
Will make known my words unto you.
Matthew Not every one that saith
unto me (Jesus), "Lord, Lord,"
7:21-23 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but
rather he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven." (KJV)
Luke The Kingdom of God cometh
not with observation: Neither
17:20-21 shall they say, Lo here! Or, Lo there! For,
behold,
the Kingdom of God is within you.
(KJV)
1 Cor.3 Know ye not that ye are the
temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?…
which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own. (KJV)
4Q400 … priests of the inner
temple, ministers of
Dead Sea the presence in his glorious innermost
Temple
Scrolls chambers.
4Q405 Praise the God of… wonder,
and exalt Him… As
Dead Sea they rise, a whispered divine voice is
heard…
Scrolls
And so, we see the evolution of God’s
relationship with man. We begin with the fear of God and his
external commandments and we end with the love of God
and the pouring out of His spirit upon us, and within
us.
We’ve heard from the prophets about the Kingdom within. Now
hear the poets:
Emily Dickinson Conscious am I in my
Chamber,
#679 Of a shapeless friend –
Presence – is His furthest license –
Instinct esteems Him
Immortality –
Emily Dickinson One need not be a Chamber –
to be Haunted –
#670 One need not be a House –
The Brain has Corridors – surpassing
Material place –
Far safer, of a midnight meeting
External Ghost
Than its interior Confronting
–
That Cooler Host.
Here, Emily is expressing her
consciousness of the inner spirit within – the "shapeless friend"
and "Cooler Host" of "immortality." Unlike the external spirits and
Ghosts; the internal spirit inhabits our mind – the
"corridors of the brain."
Let’s take a look at a few more:
Emily Dickinson No Rack can torture me –
#384 My Soul – at liberty –
Behind this mortal Bone
There knits a bolder One…
Captivity is Consciousness –
So’s Liberty.
Realization of God’s spirit within,
"the bolder One," liberates one from all perceived human
limitations, i.e. one’s "captivity." Now consider:
Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord God is
upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me as a herald of joy to the
humble,
To bind up the wounded heart.
To proclaim release to the captives…
To comfort all who mourn –
The Son of Man takes this prophecy up into
himself and liberates man through the revelation of the kingdom of
heaven within, because "captivity is consciousness" after all, and
consciousness is mostly unaware of God’s gift within us, the
indwelling spirit. And when consciousness becomes aware of this gift
we exchange our humdrum perception for:
Emily Dickinson Purple – is
fashionable twice –
#980 This season of the year,
And when a soul perceives itself
To be an Emperor.
i.e.; the Emperor of the Kingdom Within,
because:
Emily Dickinson The soul that hath a
guest
#674 Doth seldom go abroad -Diviner
Crowd at Home
Obliterate the need –
And Courtesy forbid
A Host’s departure when
Upon Himself be visiting
The Emperor of Men –
The "guest" is God’s spirit within as is
"The Emperor of Men." We are the physical hosts of the spiritual
"Host" within. God’s infinite spark of divinity lies within each of
us. Just as biologic fathers give a genetic piece of themselves to
their children, our spiritual Father gives us a spiritual piece of
Himself. Now let’s switch gears regarding the kingdom within:
Walt Whitman Each is not for its
own sake,
Song of Open Road I say the whole earth and all the stars in
the sky
Are for religions sake.
I say no man has ever yet
been half devout enough,
None has ever yet adored or
worshipped enough,
None has begun to think
how divine he himself is, and
How certain the future
is.
Song of Myself O, I could sing such glories and
grandeurs about you!
You have not known what
you are,
You have slumber’d upon
yourself all your life,
Your eyelids have been the
same as closed most of
The time.
We are unaware of the presence of the
spirit within and so "we have not known what we are" and haven’t
begun to realize "how divine" we ourselves can become.
The voice within points the way, if we but listen. Follow the
guide within and experience the reality of the divine indwelling.
Behold, "all things are becoming new"-- once we experience and are
aware of God’s spirit within; that "little voice" that speaks
silently.
And now, back to Isaiah. He turns 180 degrees and addresses our
elite and illustrious leaders: the "blind watchmen," "the negligent
shepherds," and "the greedy dogs."
Misleaders
Isaiah 56:10 The watchmen are blind, all of
them,
They perceive nothing.
That cannot bark;
They lie sprawling,
They love to drowse.
Moreover, the dogs are greedy;
They never know satiety.
As for the shepherds, they know not
What it is to give heed.
Everyone has turned to his own way,
Every last one seeks his own advantage.
"Come, I’ll buy some wine;
Let us swill liquor.
And tomorrow will be just the same,
Or even much grander!"
The righteous man perishes,
And no one considers;
Pious men are taken away,
And no one gives thought
That because of evil…
The righteous was taken away.
Yet he shall come to peace,
He shall have rest on his couch
Who walked straightforward.
But as for you, come closer,…
On a high and lofty hill
You have set your couch;
Behind the door and doorpost
You have directed your thoughts;
Abandoning Me, you have gone up
Isaiah 57:8 You have chosen lust
You have provided many perfumes.|
And you have sent your envoys afar,
Though wearied by much travel,
You never said, "I give up!"
You found gratification
for your lust,
And so you never cared.
Whom do you dread and fear,
That you tell lies?
But you gave no thought of Me,
You paid no heed!
It is because I have stood idly by for so
long
That you have no fear of Me
I hereby pronounce judgment on your
deeds:
Isaiah 57:12 Your assorted idols shall not
avail you,
Shall not save you when you cry out
They shall all be borne off by the wind,
Snatched away by a breeze.
Here the watchmen (56:10) are our
"experts", the erudite prognosticators of conventional wisdom. Their
refrain is always the same, everything is fine – just another bright
sunny day. Meanwhile justice has gone out from the land and truth
out from our hearts. Our leaders are misleaders; their only interest
is self-interest. Gone are the statesmen. Gone are the
noblemen. Gone are the wise men. There is no one home. Our shepherds
(leaders) are wolves feeding off the flock. Entrusted with much,
these misleaders will be answerable for much. The consequences of
this blind leadership will shortly rear their ugly heads. And then
the cry: "if only we knew." But we close our eyes, and cover our
ears, and bury our heads – co-conspirators against truth and
justice. "We hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil. And
we love it to have it so."
Now, back to the main narrative of Isaiah:
Isaiah 60:17 Arise, and shine, for your
light has dawned.
The presence of the Lord has shone upon you.
Behold! Darkness shall cover the earth,
And thick clouds the peoples
But upon you the Lord will shine,
And His Presence be seen over you.
And nations will walk by your light.
Raise your eyes and look about:
They have all gathered and come to you (the
Lord)
Your sons shall be brought from afar,
Your daughters like babes on shoulders.
As you behold, you will glow:
This "Presence of the Lord" is some sort
of visible manifestation of The Lord/Messiah/Melchizedek. There are
repeated references to the light that he radiates in contrast to the
"dark clouds" that are present upon the "Lord’s" Messianic arrival.
Such dark clouds could possibly be from nuclear detonations or
perhaps some natural phenomena, i.e. multiple volcanic eruptions
associated with the large scale tectonic event or events that occur
in concert with "the Lord’s" arrival, described elsewhere. Next in
line, consider:
Isaiah 60:8 Who are these that float like
a cloud,
Like doves to their windows?
CLOUDS/CHARIOTS/SKY
This is a great question. Just what are
these objects in the sky termed clouds. Remember the passages
regarding "the Lord" leading the Israelites by a "pillar of cloud"
in the day and a "fire" in this cloud at night, that gives off light
for the people to see by:
Ps 78:14 In the daytime also he (the
Lord) led them with a cloud, and all
The night with a light of fire
(KJV)
Ps 99:7 He (the Lord) spoke
unto them in the cloudy pillar. (KJV)
Ex 33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered the
Tabernacle, the cloudy pillar
descended…
And the Lord talked with Moses.
(Moses, untroubled
by this, was well schooled in the traditions
regarding
Melchizedek; as discussed in the UB).
Now lets proceed with other references to this
word cloud:
Isaiah 19:1 Behold, the Lord rideth upon a
swift cloud. (KJV)
Jer 4:13 Behold, he (Lord) shall come
up as clouds and
His chariots
shall be as a whirlwind:
Deut 33:26 There is none like God
(probably Melchizedek), O Israel,
Who rides through the heavens to your
help and
In his majestic glory through the skies.
(Amplified Bible)
There is a strong association between "the
Lord" (probably Melchizedek) and the word "cloud." It would also
appear that he the Lord Melchizedek travels or "rides" through the
skies on "chariots" that also are described as "swift clouds." These
descriptions are literal and not figurative in my opinion. Further
consider:
2Kings 2:11 Behold, there appeared a
chariot of fire, and
horses of fire, and it parted them (Elijah &
Elisha) both
asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind
into heaven. (see above similarity in
Jeremiah 4:13) (Amplified Bible)
Ps 68:17 The chariots of God
are twenty thousands of angels
The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in
The Holy Place. (KJV)
The word chariot is also used in 1Enoch to
describe vehicles traveling across the heavens that sound like
modern aircraft.
1Enoch 55:1-3 After this I beheld an army
of chariots with men riding in them.
And they came upon the wind from
the east, from the west, and
from the south. The sound of the
noise of their chariots was heard.
Chariots then, are vehicles of
transportation, on the ground or in the air, depending on the
context of its usage.
Psalm 68:17 above links angels and
"chariots." This brings to mind the "transport seraphim" discussed
in the Urantia Book. Could these "chariots" or "swift clouds" be at
all related to the modern phenomenon of "UFOS"? Of transport
seraphim?
Now, let’s look at a very important passage that also refers to
"clouds."
Daniel 7:13 One like a human being (one
like a son of man/ RSV.)
Came with the clouds of heaven;
He reached the Ancient of Days
And was presented to Him; (Tanakh)
Remember that Jesus took his title Son of
Man from the Book of Enoch (UB.p.l390). Here the Messianic figure is
referred to as "one like a son of man," who is not Jesus
because:
UB p. 1748 Jesus endeavored to lead his
followers into the spiritual
kingdom… but they would not have it so.
He well knew that
his earth mission could not possibly fulfill
Messianic expectations
of the Jewish people; the older prophets
portrayed a Messiah,
which he could never be.
Therefore, Jesus tells us repeatedly that
"his kingdom is not of this world", but rather an inner spiritual
kingdom which he has come to reveal. "One like a son of man"
is not Jesus. Who is I early history of Israel. We also know that
"the Lord" sometimes refers to Melchizedek. If the Messiah is
Melchizedek and he "comes with the clouds of heaven: this would fit
with our previous associations between "the Lord" and the "pillar of
cloud" that leads the Israelites. Remember that Melchizedek was on
earth in a "semi material form" as well as a material form
previously, and that a Melchizedek can take on a wide variety of
forms; spiritual, material, and semi material. Also notice the key
word like, in "one like a son of man." Jesus was a son
of man because he was born of woman. Melchizedek incarnated in an
adult human form and was not born of woman. Therefore he is not a
son of man but rather is like a son of man. So the "cloud" reference
and the "one like a son of man" reference both point to Melchizedek
as the Lord/Messiah. Now consider the rest of this passage:
Daniel 7:14 And to him (one like a son
of man) was
Given dominion, and glory and kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and
languages
Should serve him;
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And his kingdom is one
That shall not be destroyed
This is not a spiritual Messiah, he comes
in power and glory to judge the earth and take dominion
(sovereignty) of the nations and peoples of the world. Why does he
come and take sovereignty? Melchizedek is our Planetary Prince in
waiting. All normal planets have a Planetary Prince and we are about
to be restored to normalcy. Also, the present world leaders are
misleaders; they spend no time truly addressing our global
problems such as overpopulation, pollution, environmental
degradation, rapid loss of biologic species, ongoing ozone
depletion, global social and political unrest, and increasing
nuclear weapons proliferation. They talk a lot but actually do very
little, after all it may ruffle the feathers of some powerful
corporation. This planet is being and has been, raped by the wealthy
and powerful. Nary a thought is given to putting back what we
take out. The sole motivation is to get as much wealth and power
as fast as possible.
Because of this, when Melchizedek steps in, we will be in the
middle of many major problems. But God is not going to let the many
good people of the world be destroyed by the strong and powerful.
Sovereignty will be taken away from the present leadership elite and
given to those who live according to God’s ways:
Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew
his trumpet…
Saying, "the power to rule over the
World belongs now to our Lord and His
Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever.
The word Messiah is Christos in Greek. Christ means Messiah.
Unfortunately, Jesus was surnamed for just what he was not.
Also notice that "our Lord" and "his Messiah" are two different
personages in this verse. "Our Lord" is God and "his Messiah" is
God’s chosen representative for our world, Melchizedek. The fact
that this is a Messiah of this physical world and that he rules
forever – indicates a divine being. This divine being is on a cloud
just as before in Daniel:
Rev 14:14 Then I looked, and there was a
white cloud, and sitting on
The cloud was what looked like a
human being (one like a
son of man/RSV.)
With a crown of gold on his head and
a sharp sickle in his hand.
Again, "one like a son of man" is the
reaper. Why is there a sickle in his hand? The prophets have asked
God for thousands of years over and over; "How long Lord? How long?"
meaning how long will the strong trample the weak? How long will the
arrogant govern the meek? God’s answer is that everything has a
season to grow and yield its full fruit; we then reap what we sow.
The sun is made to shine on the good and the evil. Remember
the parable when the good man sows good seed, but while he is
sleeping, an evil one sows weeds in the same field. And, when the
weeds grow up with the good crop, the parable tells us that both
good and bad will be allowed to reach harvest together. Then the
field will be harvested and the good crop stored away and the weeds
bound up and thrown into the fire. This is done because pulling the
weeds up early would damage the good as well as the bad. The end
of an age is a harvest time when everything is harvested and
accounted for. The one on the cloud has a "sickle in his hand"
to harvest the crop at the end of the age. This "one like a son of
man" is Melchizedek who comes to save the world from itself, give
restitution to "God’s people," and begin a new and glorious age of
promise. The prophecy, "The meek shall inherit the earth" will
finally become reality. Also, remember Jesus’ parable about the good
landowner of the vineyard. The landowner leaves his beautiful
vineyard in the hands of workmen who ransack his property and ruin
his vineyard. The landowner sends his best servants, and then even
his very own son to check on its progress. The son they kill, so as
to deprive him of his inheritance, and Jesus then looks to the
listening audience and asks, "What do you think the landowner will
do?" In unison they answer, "he will destroy those men…"
(UB.p.l893). This story is not only a parable. It is also a
prophecy of Jesus’ (the son in the parable) subsequent death at
the hands of the leaders of Jerusalem who are playing the role of
the workmen left in charge. Israel is the vineyard and God is the
landowner who sends his son Jesus to set right the spiritual affairs
of Israel. But Jesus is killed by the very ones causing the trouble
in the first place, the workmen left in charge, i.e. the leaders of
Israel. But wait! The parable prophecy hasn’t ended yet because God
has not yet sent anyone to bring justice to the vineyard workers,
i.e. the leaders. The parable will end, when God’s Agent of Justice
arrives and sets the affairs of His "vineyard" aright, just as at
the ending of the parable. This is exactly the function of the
"Messiah" described in Old Testament prophecy. Not only was Jesus
aware of his upcoming death, but he also was aware that the complete
story would someday end like his parable ended.
The word messiah is used only twice in the Bible, both times in
Daniel (chp.9) embedded in some passages regarding the seventy weeks
prophecy. The word messiah is also used several times in 1Enoch in
association with a divine being who brings peace and victory to
those who "elect" God’s will during the end of the Age. This Messiah
figure in 1Enoch is called the Elect One, the Concealed One, the
Mighty One, and God of the World. Notice that the God of the World
designation well describes the function of a Planetary
Prince/Sovereign. The word messiah means anointed in spirit, and
when capitalized, Messiah means the Anointed One over all
other anointed ones. Prophets and servants are also anointed ones,
lower case. The word "Christ" simply is the Greek translation of the
word "Messiah." Essentially, we have named Jesus "Christ" for
precisely what he is not, i.e. "Messiah." When Jesus came, people
were looking for the World Messiah and mostly missed recognizing the
Spiritual Savior. This time around Christians are looking for the
Spiritual Savior and alas – the World Messiah comes. Humanity
gets it wrong both times. No one can say that we’re not consistent.
Now, please consider:
Psalm 2:1 Wherefore do the heathen
rage,
Septuagint and the nations imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth stood up, and
The rulers gathered themselves together,
Against the Lord, and against His Christ;
Messiah/Melchizedek
The Lord here is God and "His Christ" is
His Messiah, who He has chosen (anointed), to take charge of the
unruly affairs of our world as indicated by reference to ‘the
nations,’ ‘the kings of the earth,’ and the ‘rulers.’ This Psalm was
written hundreds of years before Jesus Christ was born and the word
Christ was being used in its generic meaning of Messiah. Going
further with this interesting Psalm:
Psalm 2:6 … But I (Christ/Messiah) have
been
Made King by Him (God) on Zion His holy
Mountain, declaring the ordinance of the
Lord (God):
The Lord (God) said to me, Thou art my Son,
today
I have begotten thee. Ask of Me, and I will
Give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,
and
The ends of the earth for thy
possession. (Septuagint)
This reminds us of the other Psalm where
my Lord (God) tells my Lord (Messiah) that He will make the earth
his footstool. God is telling His Son (Melchizedek) that he will put
him in charge of our planet and that he (Melchizedek) will dwell in
Zion. The heathen are all non-believers, or better, non-knowers of
God. And so, since we know Jesus is not the World Messiah; there is
only one other divine being, in the lineage of the Sons of God, that
this could be, i.e. Melchizedek, who just happens to be revealed as
the shortly forthcoming Planetary Prince of Urantia in the Urantia
Book. Also recall that 11Q13 of the Dead Sea Scrolls
identifies this Messiah figure directly as Melchizedek by replacing
the word "Lord" in the original verse with the word Melchizedek in a
passage describing the end of The Age This reverses the very error
in the Old Testament identified by the Urantia Book i.e. the use of
the word "Lord or angel of the Lord" in place of Melchizedek.
Thus the Urantia Book corroborates the Dead Sea Scrolls and the
Scrolls corroborate the Urantia Book about this issue. "Melchizedek"
is back in, "Lord" is out! Thus, scriptural evidence is strongly
consistent with Melchizedek as the "Messiah" figure. Could the
Prophets of the Old Testament be wrong about its prophecy of a
"Messiah?" Since these prophecies about a "Messiah" occupy a
large portion of scriptural prophecy, if wrong, then one would
expect most of this scripture to also be wrong. But the more one
studies this scripture, the more one is impressed with its accuracy,
consistency (both internal and across multiple sources), and
co-ordination. By co-ordination I mean that different sources fill
in different parts of the overall puzzle. The unified interpretation
of the entire corpus of Judeo-Christian scripture throughout the
ages, will one day be a gleaming monument to God’s omniscient over
control. Remarkably, God knows every thought that will pass through
our heads during our entire existence. And even more remarkably, He
knows it before the universe itself was even yet created. And yet,
our free will to choose our own course is operative throughout.
We are free to choose and God is free to foreknow our choice.
The following poem expresses this seeming paradox well.
Emily Dickinson Experience is that Angled
Road
#910 Preferred against the Mind
By-Paradox-the Mind itself –
Presuming it to lead
Quite opposite – How Complicate
The Discipline of Man –
Compelling Him to Choose Himself.
His Pre-appointed Pain
Our minds are always busy making plans for
our future experiences (our lives). However, real life experience is
always different from what we plan or expect. The mind sets out a
smooth plan but life sets before us a bumpy and "angled road" with
many detours along the way. These unplanned experiences bring before
us those decisions which are necessary for the inner unfolding of
the flower of our being. These important choices are both freely
"chosen," and "pre-appointed" by God’s plan. They frequently involve
the "pain" of letting go the baggage we hold so dear. The weight of
the baggage gone, the pain ends and the joy begins. When the
scriptural framework for the end of this age starts to be enacted,
even in it’s smallest details; God’s "behind the scene" true
sovereignty will never be in doubt again.
Messiah/Melchizedek
Zech. 2:14 For lo, I come; and I will
dwell in your
Midst – declares the Lord. In that day
many
Nations will attach themselves to the
Lord
And become His people and He will
dwell in
Your midst. Then you will know that I
Was sent to you by the Lord of Hosts.
Here the Lord of Hosts is God and the Lord
who "dwells in our midst" is Melchizedek. Two Lords, two different
divine beings.
Micah 4:3 And he shall judge many
people, and
rebuke strong nations afar off; and They
shall
beat their swords into plowshares.
Micah 7:16 The nations shall see and be
confounded
despite all their might; they shall lay
their hand upon
their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
Again, what are they seeing that so
confounds the nations?
Could it be just an accident that all the world’s peoples are
looking simultaneously for their version of the Messiah? Would God
only prepare Jews and Christians? Has Melchizedek’s involvement been
solely with the Judaic tradition? We learn from John Hogue in his
book, Millennium Prophecy, of a very long list of expected
Messiah figures all of which are expected to set things aright. Here
he states: "Prophecy shares a collective vision of a Second Coming
of a Christ figure. All of our soothsayers say his ‘cloud’ is due to
land from heaven during our time." (Millennium Prophecy pg.
333). This is what the Kabala (a text of Jewish mysticism) says
about the number 21, that is, the 21 st Century:
The World Ascension to
leadership, Temporal and Spiritual.
Prosperity Cycle in Mundane Affairs.
Advancement of Backward
People. Adept Proper use of talents in arts,
science, and commerce.
The power of Peace. The Hebrew Letter
Schin, Planetary Ruler!
The Luminous One, The Sun. (Millennium
Prophecy pg. 299).
The Kabala information is right on the
mark in this quote. We are the backward people who have struggled in
darkness, retarded in progress by the absence of benevolent and wise
leadership. The "Planetary Ruler" or Sovereign, Melchizedek will
establish "peace" and initiate an era of spiritual and material
"prosperity." We have discussed the light given off by Melchizedek
when he arrives amidst dark clouds overhead. Notice the alternate
name given for the Planetary Ruler is The Luminous One, fitting in
with the scriptural description nicely.
But even more important than the transformation of our
leadership is the transformation of we the people from within:
Sri Aurobindo
(1950- ) "O Force-compelled, Fate-driven, Earth-Born
race
Bengali Mystic O petty adventurers in an infinite world
And prisoners of a dwarf
humanity,
How long will you tread the circling
tracts of mind
Around your little self and
petty things?
But not for a changeless littleness
were you meant,
Not for vain repetition were you
built
.. Almighty powers are shut in nature’s
cells.
A greater destiny awaits you in
your front
… The life you lead conceals the
light you are
(John
Hogue, Millennium Prophecy pg. 292)
Sri Aurobindo is a Bengali mystic and
visionary, born in Calcutta, India and educated in England. The
petty lives we lead conceal the divine potentials that lie untapped
within us.
"The coming spiritual rebellion in
human consciousness is one of
the largest collective forecasts in the
minority prophetic vote for
human survival" (Millennium Prophecy
pg. 294.)
The future always comes in through the
minority. The last battle won, "conventional wisdom" is one step
from the scrap heap. We fear and resist change, no matter what its
content. Nearly all-conventional wisdom today is wrong! Wrong about
science, wrong about politics, wrong about people, wrong about
philosophy, wrong about religion and wrong about most anything else
we can think of. Our leaders, our intellectuals and our so-called
elite will have the same constant refrain right up to the hour when
they are removed from their power and prestige. The refrain is
"everything is fine, going just as we expected." This is why they
are so "confounded" in Micah 7:16 (above) when the World Messiah
steps into the fray. It’s time we started thinking for ourselves and
stop buying the illusions, which are cast up in front of us by the
"leadership class" and the media; one working hand in hand with the
other.
There is a Sufi
metaphor about identification. Misery doesn’t come
to us; we unconsciously seek it out and
hold on to it, like flinging our
arms around a pillar. We squeeze
tighter and yell, "Oh if I could only
be rid of this misery and pain!"…We
"do" misery we "do" expectation.
Hell is not a place, we "do" it, as
American mystic Adi DaSantoshia
once remarked…We make prophecy
work because we are so damned
predictable… We have repeated again and
again the behaviors that
make it easy for the seers to prophesy
us unto doomsday.
(John Hogue,
Millennium Prophecy, Pg. 305).
In other words, we have seen the enemy
and it is us. This is why the Urantia Book gives Caligastia (the
devil) little credit for the evil around us and places the blame
squarely where it belongs – on ourselves. And the silence of "the
good people" is deafening as we stand back and watch the destruction
of our country and our families. And so it is, in part,
ourselves, those "faithful servants" who will be held accountable
for the "talents" we have been given to use for increase:
Our spiritual path
is not complex, it is quite simple…it is not a
romantic sacrifice to look at oneself,
to be able to celebrate life. Yet,
with this comes a feeling of joy, a
sense of being, and a connection
with the Flow of the universe. (Good
Horse Nation (1985) Visayan
Medicine Man from John Hogue,
Millennial Prophecy.)
I absolutely
believe that no one wants to choose suicide. Up to now
man has been surviving without
transformation because there was no
urgency for change. (Osho, 1984,
Millennial Prophecy)
I would disagree with the sentence about
suicide. There are some who are so filled with anger and hatred that
they repeatedly choose destruction for themselves and those around
them. These love to control others and impose their will.
Because of their passion to control and to make subservient, they
are seekers of power and prestige. Find any place of true power, in
any organization, and it is very likely you will find someone with
this type of behavior. We haven’t noticed, but such as these are
running everything now-a days – our government, our educational
institutions, our corporations, our banks and everything else of any
consequence regarding wealth and power. Therefore, we are all taking
a one-way trip to chaos. But out of chaos comes the burning embers
of a new start for human civilization and its transformed peoples.
Walt Whitman gives us a glimpse of this personal transformation and
calls for us to come out of ourselves:
:
Walt Whitman Afoot and lighthearted I take
to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
Song of the The long brown path before me leading
Open Road wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good fortune,
I myself am good fortune…
Strong and content I travel the open
road.
You road I enter upon and look around,
I believe you are not all that is here,
I believe that much unseen is also
here…
The Earth expanding right hand and left
hand…
O public road…
You express me better than I can
express myself,
You shall be more to me than my poem…
I inhale great draughts of space,
The east and the west are mine,
and the north and the south are mine.
I am larger and better than I thought
I did not know I held such goodness…
To know the universe itself as a road,
as many roads, as roads for traveling
souls.
All parts away for the progress of
souls…
Forever alive, forever forward
Desperate, proud, fond, sick, accepted
by men,
rejected by men,
They go! They go! I know that they go,
but I know not where.
But I know that
they go toward the best,
toward something great.
Whoever you are, come forth!…
Out of dark confinement!
Out from behind the screen!…
Alons the road is before us!
It is safe – I have tried it – my own
feet have tried it well
– be not detained!
(Excerpts Song of the Open Road, Walt
Whitman,
Leaves of Grass, 1855)
Now back to the main narrative, Isaiah:
Isaiah 60:9 Behold, the coastlands
await me,…
To bring your sons from afar,…
Aliens shall rebuild your
(Jerusalem’s) walls,…
Their Kings shall wait on you (Jerusalem) –
…
Your gates shall always stay open –
Day and night they shall never be shut – …
And you shall be called "City of the Lord."
Here, "The Lord" tells us of the
restoration of Jerusalem, the city where Lord Melchizedek will
dwell. Strangers and "aliens" from other countries, including
America, will come to live in and rebuild Jerusalem. These
re-identified "alien" Israelites (Christians mostly) reunite with
their cultural brethren from Judah (the Jews), forming once again
one nation under God, the new Israel. And Melchizedek will:
Messiah
Isaiah 60:16 appoint Well-being as the
government
Prosperity as the officials
The cry "Violence" will no more be heard in
the Land…
No longer shall you need sun
For light by day,
Nor the shining of the moon
For radiance by night…
For the Lord shall be a light to you
forever,
And your days of mourning shall be ended.
Melchizedek is able to radiate large
amounts of visible light. Less literally, Jesus and the Father
remain our spiritual light within. The physical, intellectual and
spiritual are thus harmonized and coordinated in triunity. Next we
have:
Isaiah 63:1 Who is coming from Edom,
In crimsoned garments from Bozrah –
Who is this, majestic in attire,
Pressing forward in His great might?
"It is I, who contend victoriously,
Powerful to give triumph."
Isaiah 42:13 The Lord goes forth like a
warrior,
Like a fighter He whips up His rage.
He yells, He roars aloud,
He charges upon His enemies.
I have kept silent for too long,
Kept still and restrained Myself;
This is the large-scale equivalent of
Jesus’ righteous anger that he exhibited when he turned over the
tables of the moneylenders in the temple. Melchizedek and Jesus are
angry for the sake of God’s abrogated laws and the oppression
of His children. However, Jesus and probably Melchizedek "revile no
man," (UB) for personal judgment rests safely with God alone.
Melchizedek enters as a warrior.
Warriors enter a city on horseback, not riding an ass as
Jesus did. Melchizedek comes in power and glory to put out the fires
of evil ravaging the world – perhaps the red (crimsoned garments)
symbolizes bloodshed. The Hopi Indian Messiah is expected to wear a
red cap and cloak. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the foal of an ass;
warriors enter a city on horseback, a symbol of power:
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened,
And behold a white horse;
And he that sat on him
Was called Faithful and True;
And in righteousness he doth judge
and make war
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the
kings of the earth,
And their armies, gathered together to make
War on him that sat on the horse and
Against his army.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a
white horse;
And he that sat on him had a bow;
And a crown was given unto him;
And he went forth conquering and to conquer.
White symbolizes cleanliness,
righteousness, and holiness. A horse is symbolic of a warrior. The
crown symbolizes sovereignty. The one on horseback is Melchizedek,
the Faithful and True, Son of God, who rapidly subdues the world’s
leaders (kings) that are bringing war to the peoples. Also, remember
that Joseph, the chosen (elect) son of Jacob, wore a crown
and was a strong archer with a bow. Melchizedek is God’s
chosen Son, and just as Joseph, he is given a crown and a bow, as
well as sovereignty of our world. This is why 1Enoch calls
Melchizedek the Elect One. The crown follows the elect; those
who stand up and elect God’s will.
Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew
his trumpet,…
And loud voices in heaven, were saying "The
Kingdom of the World has become the
Kingdom
Of our Lord (God) and his Christ (Messiah
Melchizedek)
Notice carefully that this kingdom is
of the world and is not the inner spiritual kingdom of
heaven spoken of by Jesus, for he said on many occasions, "my
kingdom is not of this world."
The Book of Revelation is stated in
the Urantia Book to be a much deleted and edited version of
John’s original vision, which is stated to have been a profound and
far reaching prophecy. It should be noted however that the
Urantia Book freely quotes many passages of Revelation
and explains their true meanings. Therefore, I use Revelation
sparingly and carefully in situations where it adds to or expands
the meaning of Old Testament prophesy, already previously developed.
Scripture is an organic whole, like a growing tree with many
branchings off the main trunk. Here are a few samples of
Urantia Book quotes regarding Revelation.
UB p. 599 It was at the conclusion of
the terminal mission of the Teacher
Sons (at least that would be the chronology
on a normal world)
that John wrote: "I saw a new heaven, a new
earth and the new
Jerusalem coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as
a princess adorned for the prince."
The comment in the Urantia Book regarding
this new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem leaves open the
possibility of this event occurring on our world at any time, even
the upcoming time of our presently ending age as our world is out of
the usual order. Consider:
UB p. 599 The Trinity Teacher Sons may
return many times to the
same world. But sooner or later, in
connection with the
termination of one of their missions, the
Planetary Prince is
elevated to the position of Planetary
Sovereign, and the
System Sovereign appears to proclaim the
entrance of
such a world upon the era of light and life.
Do we dare speculate that since
Melchizedek is described in scripture as receiving sovereignty
(crown) as our Planetary Prince that our world may also enter the
era of light and life at the end of this age, when Melchizedek is
elevated to the position of Planetary Sovereign. One more example of
the use of Revelation in the UB:
UB p. 538 John the Revelator saw a
vision of the arrival of a class of
advancing mortals from the seventh mansion
world to their
first heaven, the glories of Jerusem. He
recorded; "And I saw
as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire;
and those who gained
the victory over the beast that was
originally in them, and over
the image that persisted through the mansion
worlds and finally
over the last mark and trace, standing on
the sea of glass, having
the harps of God, and singing the song of
deliverance from mortal
fear and death."
UB p. 538 …on the seventh mansion world. Here
you will be purged of all
the remnants of unfortunate heredity,
unwholesome environment,
and unspiritual planetary tendencies. The
last remnants of the ‘mark
of the beast’ are here eradicated.
Notice, that the Urantia Book adds
quite a bit of information to the actual passage in scripture:
Rev 15:2 And I saw what appeared to be
a sea of glass mingled with fire,
and those who had conquered the beast in its
image and the number
of his name, standing beside the sea of
glass with harps of God in
their hands.
In the UB passage the "mark of the Beast"
refers to the animalistic, biologic, and environmentally induced
imperfections within man as opposed to the external
"mark of the beast" suggested by the actual text of "Revelation".
There are over a hundred places in the Urantia Book where
imagery from Revelation is discussed, as listed in Duane Faw’s
Paramony of the Urantia Book and the Bible. Perhaps some of the
original meanings of John’s vision could be reconstructed by using
the information provided in the Urantia Book. Now to Isaiah
once more:
Isaiah 65:1 I (the Lord) responded to
those who did not ask,
I was at hand to those who did not seek Me;
I said, "Here I am, here I am,"
To a nation that did not invoke My name.
I constantly held out My hands
To a disloyal people,
Who walk in the way that is not good,
Following their own designs.
Here, the Lord Melchizedek explains why he
departed from his dwelling place in ancient Zion. He tried
everything possible to get the people to listen, but they
persistently turned away from Him to choose their own way.
Isaiah 65:8 As when new wine is present
in the cluster,
One says, "Don’t destroy it; there’s good in
it."
So will I do for My servants,
My chosen ones shall take possession,
My servants shall dwell thereon.
And so, the Lord preserves his "servants"
who are mindful of him and will give them the land to dwell on.
What’s more His "chosen ones" are given actual possession of the
earth. This means that when the present world leadership is removed
that sovereignty will pass to Melchizedek and Melchizedek will give
it to "his chosen ones," elsewhere called the elect. The elect are
those who understand, elect, and do God’s will. Consider:
Those Who Elect God’s Will
1Enoch 1:1 (This is) The word of the
blessing of Enoch, how he blessed the elect
and the righteous who are to exist in the
time of trouble;…
1Enoch 1:2 that which will not take place
in this generation; but in a generation,
which is to succeed at a distant
period, on account of the elect.
Mat. 24:22 And except those days be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved;
but for the elect’s sake those days shall be
shortened. (KJV)
Isaiah 45:14 For Jacob my servant’s sake,
and Israel mine elect, I have even called
thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee,
though thou has not known me.
(KJV)
Isaiah 43:1 Fear not, for I will redeem
you,
I have singled you out by name,
You are mine.
When you pass through water,
I will be with you;
Through streams,
Thy shall not overwhelm you
When you walk through fire
You shall not be scorched…
Because you are precious to Me
And honored, and I love you.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you
Shall succeed…
Such is the lot of the servants of the Lord,
Such their triumph through Me.
From 1Enoch we see that this people who
love God, i.e. the "elect," is a group that exists during the trial
period, that "distant period" of time referred to by 1Enoch at the
end of the age. Also, we notice, that God’s entire plan for
salvation during this period is enacted for the sake of those
people who love God and live according to His Will; those who
elect Him.
Matthew confirms 1Enoch, or derives from 1Enoch, this same
sentiment. Isaiah gives clues to the identify of the elect and
emphasizes the divine protection and support they will
receive in their attempts to stand up to the evils of "those days,"
through which those people will be further refined and "made white"
in the fires of adversity. Further:
1Enoch To the righteous and wise
shall be given books of joy, of integrity,
104:10 and of great wisdom. To them shall books be
given, in which they shall
believe;
104:11 And in which they shall
rejoice. And all the righteous will be
rewarded, who from these (books) shall
acquire the knowledge of
every upright path.
104A:1 In those days, saith the
Lord, they (the elect) shall call to the
children of the earth and make them listen
to their wisdom.
Show them that you are their
leaders…Rejoice, children of
integrity, in the truth.
Rejoice indeed. It would appear that
through some remarkable books, a certain group or groups of people
will be brought into a whole knowledge of "every upright path."
These people become leaders in teaching other people, the "children
of the earth," the ways of truth. Perhaps this teaching may relate
to other scriptural statements that "before the end (of the age) the
gospel of the kingdom of heaven will be proclaimed to all the
world." Notice that this gospel is about the kingdom of heaven, the
true gospel of Jesus. Now, all we need to do is find those people
who have been taught, by books, about this mysterious subject, the
kingdom of heaven, and wake them up to their task ahead.
Lets turn now to see what the Dead Sea Scrolls have to say about the
elect.
DSC Why do the peoples rage and
the peoples meditate vanity? Why
4Q174 do the kings of the earth rise up, and the princes
take council together
against the Lord and his Messiah’ (Ps 2: 1).
Interpreted, this
saying concerns the kings of nations who shall
rage up against the elect of Israel in the
last days. (Interpretation by the
Teacher of Righteousness, leader of the
Qumran community)
4Q174 ‘But the wicked shall do
wickedly and shall not understand,
but the righteous shall purify themselves
and make themselves
white (Dan.12: 10)’ ...the people who know
God shall be strong.
They are the masters who understand…(Interpretation
by Teacher
of Righteousness; dotted lines represent
missing original text)
Notice here that the Teacher of
Righteousness is interpreting Psalm 2 and Daniel 12:10 in the same
vein as we have been. He identifies an elect group, who is standing
up against the world and the powers to be ("peoples" and "Kings of
the nations" rage). The Teacher of Righteousness also recognizes the
unique understanding that these people will possess, they know God
in their hearts and understand His Kingdom of Heaven within.
Scripture is reinforcing and repeating important information.
Information so reinforced, is very likely to be accurate judging
from past performances. Also note that the elect are ‘of Israel’
which have previously been identified as Christians, many of whom
are living in the Chief of Nations during the latter days. More on
the identity of the elect will be presented later in this book.
Now, we return again to Isaiah where the Lord says:
Restoration
Isaiah 65:17 Behold! I am creating
A new heaven and a new earth;
The former things shall not be remembered,
They shall never come to mind.
Be glad then and rejoice forever…
Never again shall be heard there
The sounds of weeping and wailing…
He who dies a hundred years
Shall be reckoned a youth…
They shall plant vineyards and enjoy their
fruit…
For the days of My people shall be
As long as the days of a tree,…
They shall not bear children for terror,
But they shall be a people blessed by the
Lord.
Before they pray I will answer Them;
While they are still speaking, I will
respond.
The wolf and lamb shall graze together…
In all My sacred mount…
Isaiah 65:25 Nothing evil or vile shall be
done – said the Lord
I read these lines literally, for it is an
easy thing for God to extend life spans, create a new heaven and a
new earth, and make the wolf graze with the lamb. Just perhaps,
these dramatic changes will come with Melchizedek’s sovereignty and
the possibility of an accelerated entrance in to the age of light
and life. Continuing:
Yet to such I look:
To the poor and brokenhearted,
Who are concerned about My word.
Those marginalized under the sovereignty
of man will not be forgotten, they will be lifted up – the ‘meek’
inheritors of a new earth under a new sovereignty. Now consider:
UB p. 622 …when the "holy temple comes
down upon earth." (Book of Revelation)
This event signalizing the dawn of the era
of light and life, is always
honored by the personal presence of the
Paradise Bestowal Son of
that planet…this Bestowal Son proclaims the
long-time Planetary
Prince as the new Planetary Sovereign
and invests such a faithful
Lanondeck Son with new powers and extended
authority over planetary
affairs.
Should we then expect Jesus to be present
when Melchizedek is made Planetary Sovereign, which is stated to be
soon forthcoming by the Urantia Book? When might this occur? The
System Sovereign will also be present. Will any of this be visible?
We also know that the Ancient of Days will be present at the end of
the age, as his presence is required whenever personality extinction
takes place (Caligastia). Quite a group of personalities on this
"forsaken" world, I would say.
UB p. 820 The pouring out of the Spirit
of Truth provides the Spiritual
Foundation for the realization of great
achievements…Urantia is
therefore far better prepared (than
the world discussed in the
Urantia Book chapter: Government on a
Neighboring Planet)
for the more immediate realization of a
planetary government…
(and) to the establishment of world peace
under law that could
lead to the dawning of a real age of
spiritual striving; and such
an age is the planetary threshold to the
utopian ages of light and life.
In any event the oncoming age will certainly
be:
UB p.1863 The advance toward the dawn of
a new social order in connection
with improved spiritual living – the next
age of man.
Finishing Isaiah, the Lord says:
Isaiah 66:14 You shall see and your heart
shall rejoice,
Your limbs will flourish like the grass.
The power of the Lord shall be revealed
In behalf of His servants.
Isaiah 66:18 The time has come to gather
all nations and tongues; they
shall come and behold My glory. I will set a
sign among them
and send from them survivors to the nations:
to Tarsish, Pul, and
Lud – that draw the bow – to Tubal, Javan,
and the distant
coastlands, that have never heard My fame or
beheld My glory.
Only the Jews, know the "fame" of
Melchizedek, who is known to them as "the Lord" of the Old
Testament. The "distant coastlands," the United States among others,
do not yet know "the Lord" Melchizedek of the Old Testament, but
rather are more familiar with "the Lord" Jesus of the New Testament.
In this passage, Isaiah 66:18, Melchizedek
is speaking (as indicated by the context: i.e. the gathering of
nations, and the glory that can be beheld.) Neither of these is
appropriate in reference to God Himself. But God Himself does close
this book of Isaiah:
Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heaven and the
new earth
KJV Which I will make
Shall endure by My will
- declares the Lord
So shall your seed and your name endure.
And it shall come to pass,
That from one new moon to another,
And one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me
-saith the Lord
This verse tells us that some radical
event will occur, such that all flesh shall come to worship
God, within the short period of time between one new moon to the
next (one month). This sudden event is the arrival of Melchizedek on
the scene.
This ends our tour through Isaiah. Next in
chronological order is Micah.
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