Translations
Original
Notes
Even though Israel was God's chosen people, they faced punishment like other wicked nations. However, Israel was not entirely destroyed. A small remnant survived.
Isaiah reminded readers of the reasons for the exile and judgment:
Israel’s sinfulness,
God’s righteous judgment, and
the absence of divine compassion.
This section is often called the Little Apocalypse. It is given this name because it has similarities to the book of Revelation.
In these chapters, Isaiah moves from his present time into a vision of the future. The language is broad and universal. Because of this, it is difficult to connect the events to one specific historical situation.
These chapters are not meant to provide a detailed timeline of future events. They are not a historical blueprint. Instead, Isaiah uses vivid images to describe a dramatic future world that is both similar to and different from the present.
The vision includes elements of both the old age and the new age. For example, the people of Zion are described as righteous (new), yet they still wait for their full redemption (old). This pattern fits with the New Testament teaching that the future age has already begun but has not yet fully arrived (2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4).
Peter wrote that believers were already living in the last days (1 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 3:3). At the same time, he said that the final day of the Lord is still future (2 Peter 3:10). These passages show that the present age and the future age overlap.
Events
- Prophecies of Isaiahc. 759 BC