The binding and sealing of the testimony and teaching of
which Isaiah speaks means that the prophecy awaits fulfillment. The proof of its veracity will be seen in
that fulfillment. He has faithfully
recorded what he has seen and heard from the Lord and now all there is left to
do is wait, no editing remains. He is
confident and anyone who teaches otherwise is a false prophet. There were those in Israel who, in direct
contradiction to the Law, sought wisdom from necromancers, those who claim to
communicate with the dead. Their
chirping and muttering was down to their insubstantiality, because they were
less real in death, only spirits, they were presumed to be weaker in
communication, somewhat the opposite of the fearsomeness in modern ideas about
some spectral communications.
Preparation for the coming of the Lord includes knowing and believing
the testimony of His chosen instruments, the prophets and those who deny this
teaching and testimony are doomed to be at a loss for understanding on that
day. They will be angry with God because
what they have prophesied is not matched by reality and they will then look to
the earth to answer them and be disappointed there as well. What has been cast down, the area of Galilee
of the Gentiles, the region where Rome resettled pensioned soldiers in order to
change the culture there, will be raised up.
Jesus' identification with Galilee should have been seen as fulfillment
of this prophecy but the prejudice was too great to receive it.
The hour has come and Jesus is willing to do whatever the
Father requires but in His humanity, prays that it not come to pass. If we ever see clearly the dual nature of
divine and human it is here in His anguish in the garden in prayer. The human nature dreads what is to come and
yet an angel appears to strengthen Jesus as He prays. The disciples cannot remain awake and Jesus
returns to make sure they continue in prayer with him until he finds them
asleep. One of the characteristics of
the Passover is that the feast ends either with the dawn or with anyone at the
feast falling asleep such that they cannot be awakened by speaking a word to
them in a normal tone. When Passover
ends without Messiah coming there is some disappointment in the household. Jesus knows that now the feast has ended, things
will proceed as He knew they would. He,
of all people, will be like Isaiah, knowing how things will flow from
here. He has warned the disciples but
they have been unwilling to hear and they will see these things as chaotic, not
looking for the resurrection.
How amazing is that Peter of all people can write to the
church that their faith has obtained an equal status with the apostles? Three years they spent with Him, Peter was
with Jesus every step of the way, even when most of the others were left
behind. Peter was one of the first
disciples, was with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration, there for part of
the trial, the first to look into the empty tomb, and was restored to his place
walking alone with Jesus on the beach after the resurrection but he says that
the faith of these who were not there is equal to his own. He is also clear that there needs to be more
than intellectual faith, that faith should change their lives and if it does
not, their fruitfulness and effectiveness will be diminished. Knowing the truth, believing the teaching and
testimony is only the first step in discipleship. Walking in that truth is the real thing.
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