Move Over Nostradamus, Make Room for Isaiah

Since the days of Hitler people have been using the quatrains of the 16th century French astrologer and physician, Nostradamus, as propaganda for their own ends. His words are so nebulous that they could virtually be interpreted anyway you please. Since September 11th's events, some con artists have even written their own quatrains and tried to pass them off as Nostradamus'.

Why do people turn to Nostradamus? Why not turn to the Bible instead? After all, wouldn't the prophets of God be a more reliable source for prophetic insights into our day? One such prophet is Isaiah. Isaiah, who lived from 740-701 B.C., is quoted more by Jesus, Paul, Peter and John (in his Revelation) than any other Old Testament prophet. Isaiah's writings are filled with multiple meanings – both literal and symbolic, both for his day and for ours. The bulk of his writings deal with the coming of the Redeemer both in his first appearance ("For unto us a child is born" Isaiah 9:6) and as the Great King at the last day, as the God of Israel.

In light of recent events, a study of Isaiah 30 yields some interesting possibilities.

Setting the Stage

Isaiah 30:1
"Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin."

He's speaking of a rebellious people who look everywhere for counsel except to the Lord. They protect themselves in worldly ways but fail to seek the Spirit as their guide and protection. Because they live without the Spirit, they add sin to sin.

Isaiah 30:9-11
"That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."

These are rebellious people. They tell lies to suit their own ends. They will not keep the Lord's commandments and do not even want to hear them. They refuse to believe that the Lord can speak to them through his servants -- the seers and prophets. They want the Lord's servants to tell them "smooth things" and to prophesy lies – because the truth against their wickedness is too hard to hear. They say, "Don't tell us there's a God, don't talk about Him."

Isaiah 30:12-13
"Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise His word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant."

Because this people despise the word of God and trust in governments that oppress and perverse practices, their iniquity will bring upon them a destruction that will come suddenly in an instant… like a high wall that is ready to fall.

Isaiah 30:18-19
"And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him….thou shalt weep no more: He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee."

The Lord is waiting and ready to show us mercy if we will turn to Him.

Isaiah 30:20-21
"And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

Although we will still experience adversity, the Lord will not leave us without His servants to guide us and teach us what to do. The word that is heard from "behind" might be like someone whispering in our ears -- someone we cannot see. This most likely is the Holy Spirit that can be with us and guide us in the direction we should go.

Isaiah 30:23
"In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures."

Rather than small farms, Isaiah sees a day where there will be large farms and large pastures of cattle.

Prophecy of the Towers

Isaiah 30:25
"And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall."

Rivers and streams of water symbolize a time of abundance. When there is plenty of water, things grow better and create prosperity. So in a day of abundance and prosperity there will be a great slaughter when the towers fall.

Isaiah 30:26
"Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."

Whether this is a literal increase in light or a figurative one is uncertain. Literally, it could be the coming of the Lord in His glory or an astronomical event. Figuratively, the light could be an increase in His truth and righteousness, perhaps in the spreading of His gospel throughout the world. The Lord will bind up the breach (chasm, flaw, rupture) of his people and will heal the "stroke of their wound." Might this be a wound caused by a "strike?" In turning to the Lord and His gospel our wounds will be healed.

Isaiah 30:27
"Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people causing them to err."

The Lord is evidently angry because of what the wicked have done. He will come in His fury to "sift the nations." Interestingly enough, they are sifted by the "sieve" of their own "vanity." Perhaps vanity is a determining factor in winnowing out those who are His people from those who are not. The "bridle in the jaws of the people" most likely symbolizes governments that control people. These are evidently corrupt governments because they "cause them to err."

Isaiah 30:29
"Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel."

But the righteous will have a song in their hearts. They will be glad as they go to the "mountain of the Lord." The "mountain of the Lord" is a Biblical symbol for the house of God or the temple of the Lord.

Isaiah 30:30
"And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones."

The Lord will show forth his indignation and His judgement in the form of fire, tempests (violent storms), and hailstones.

Isaiah 30:31
"For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod."

Ancient Assyria was in the Middle East – somewhere in the vicinity of modern day Iraq. Someone from the Middle East who has smitten others will be beaten down.

Another interesting verse in light of recent events is Isaiah 33:18:

"Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he that counted the towers?"

In this verse terror is mentioned as being on the hearts and minds of the people. Evidently there are scribes (recording clerks) and receivers who are counting something at the towers.

Whether our present day is what Isaiah is describing here can't definitely be known. But we do know that many times Isaiah's prophecies related to multiple events. He described events that were to happen shortly to his people, and also events that were to happen in the "last days." Might Isaiah have seen our day and described it here?

About the Author
Marnie L. Pehrson is the founder of http://www.SheLovesGod.com, a community for Christian women of all denominations. She is the author of the soon-to-be-released book, "10 Steps to Fulfilling Your Divine Destiny: A Christian Woman's Guide to Learning & Living God's Plan for Her."