Do the 66 books of the Protestant Bible parallel the 66 chapters of Isaiah in many ways? Let’s conclude Isaiah in chapter 66.
Where can God be found and to whom will He gladly look?
The Lord says: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. So where could you build a house for me, and where could my resting place be? My hand made all these things and brought them into being, says the Lord. But here is where I will look: to the humble and contrite in spirit, who tremble at my word. (Isa 66:1-2 CEB)
Do people still mix worship of God with idolatry? Do people still knowingly do what is wrong?
You sacrifice oxen to me, and you commit murder; you sacrifice lambs to me and dogs to other gods; you offer grain to me and pigs' blood to idols; you burn incense to me and praise your idols. You have made your own choice to do these disgusting things that you enjoy so much. You refused to answer when I called out; you paid no attention to my instructions. Instead, you did what I hated, knowing it was wrong. Now I will punish you in a way you dread the most. (Isa 66:3-4 CEV)
Will those who tremble at the Lord’s word be hated by others? Is God’s plan to eventually bring justice to all?
Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name's sake have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy’; but it is they who shall be put to shame. The sound of an uproar from the city! A sound from the temple! The sound of the Lord, rendering recompense to his enemies!” (Isa 66:5-6 ESV)
Will Jerusalem’s salvation be like a woman suddenly giving birth without pain?
Before Zion was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy. Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her sons. “Will I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the Lord; “or will I who deliver, close the womb?” says your God. Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her—so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breast and drink deeply and delight yourselves from her glorious breasts. (Isa 66:7-11 HCSB)
Will Jerusalem eventually be comforted by God? Will nations be punished?
This is what the Lord says: “See, I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; and you will nurse, and you will be carried on her hip, and bounced upon her knees. Like a child whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. And when you look, your hearts will rejoice and your bodies will flourish like grass; and it will be made known that the Lord’s hand is with his servants, but his fury is with his enemies.
“Take notice! The Lord will come with fire, and his chariot will be like a whirlwind, to pay back his anger—yes, his anger!— in fury, and his menacing rebukes in flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the Lord will proceed to judgment on all humanity, and those slain by the Lord will be many.” (Isa 66:13-16 ISV)
Will God approve of those who believe in abominations?
They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. (Isa 66:17-18 KJV)
Did Isaiah prophesy the future work of Christian missionaries?
I will set a sign among them and will send those who have escaped from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My report nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations. Then they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as a grain offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says Yahweh, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of Yahweh. I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says Yahweh. (Isa 66:19-21 LSB)
Will all humanity eventually bow down to God? What will happen to those who rebel?
“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, Which I make, will endure before Me,” declares the Lord, “So will your descendants and your name endure. And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from Sabbath to Sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the Lord. “Then they will go out and look At the corpses of the people Who have rebelled against Me. For their worm will not die And their fire will not be extinguished; And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.” (Isa 66:22-24 NASB)
Did Stephen quote this chapter of Isaiah, that God is not limited to a house of worship?
However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?’ (Acts 7:48-50 NIV)
Do the 66 books of the Protestant Bible parallel the 66 chapters of Isaiah in many ways? You decide!
