“Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his [Cyrus’] Maker: Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me” (Isaiah 45:11 NKJV).
Strange verse this.
Isaiah 45 was written 150 years before Cyrus the Great was born and had conquered Babylon (539 BC). According to Josephus, Daniel handed this ancient scroll to Cyrus, containing the personal letter “To His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held — To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors [of the conquered city of Babylon]. So the gates will not be shut” (Isaiah 45:1). Cyrus was so impressed that he later authorized the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple (Ezra 1:1-4) previously destroyed by the Babylonians.
Isaiah 45 argued the LORD’s case before Cyrus, “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd [Cyrus] strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him [the LORD] who forms it, What are you making? Or shall your handiwork say, He has no hands?” (Isaiah 45:9). In other words, who are you, Cyrus? You are the clay being formed into the potsherd. This is the same argument for God’s sovereign rule throughout history, e.g., Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17).
Prophecy is history announced in advance.
Skeptics claimed the Book of Daniel had to be written so much later in history, in order for Daniel 11 to so accurately forecast what actually took place.
If we wrongly assume prayer is changing God’s mind to do as we ask, then it would concern us that the LORD invited Cyrus to command Him “concerning the works of My hands” (Isaiah 45:11).
But, if we rightly understand prayer so changes us that it would be fitting for God to grant His will being done for us, then we can understand God telling Cyrus, “Concerning the work of My hands, you command Me” (Isaiah 45:11). Therefore, Cyrus could never command the LORD to do anything God was not already willing to do.
Jesus the Messiah encouraged His disciples to seek to know the Father’s prophetic plans for the future based upon friendship. Friends share with friends. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).
Israel is key to the fulfillment of God’s prophetic purpose in the world.
Abraham is the traditional founder of the Jewish religion, the spiritual ancestor of Christians, and a major Islamic prophet. “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Judaism, as the predominant religion of Israel, recognizes God’s promises to Abraham for a regathering of the diaspora of Jews into a political nation (1948). “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). Prophecy guarantees a future spiritual birth of Israel, whom Jehovah identifies as “Israel My glory” (Isaiah 46:13). This spiritual birth will take place at the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah. “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children” (Isaiah 66:8).
Consequently, prophecy is primarily about Israel (Daniel 9:24-27), and the Church is the unexpected branch grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel (Romans 11). Fulfillment of prophecy to an OT Jew was the coming of “Messiah the Prince” (Daniel 9:25, 26) to deliver Israel from oppression, e.g., deliverance from Rome in Christ’s day. The NT Book of Revelation is an unfolding of the OT prophecies with the understanding that Revelation 4-22 represents a Post-Rapture scenario incorporating the presence of Tribulation Saints — and, not Church Age Saints — in what would be the Tribulation Week or the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27).
The Church does not replace Israel.
Israel always had a place in God’s love. “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated” (Romans 9:13). Certainly there is no unrighteousness with God. “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:22-23)? As a result, should we not rejoice in the mercy God has so sovereignly granted us?
Israel does not become part of the Church, and the Church does not replace Israel. But, individual Jews do become part of the Church. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1Corinthians 12:13). Once the Church is removed at the Harpazō (1Thessalonians 4:17 Rapture), the prophecy timeline immediately focuses back to the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27).
Secular Israel today is subject to the displeasure of the Almighty for their obstinance in rejecting the Messiah, and for their obliviousness to the human rights of non-Jews in Israel occupied territory. Israel must be careful in its treatment of those with whom it disagrees, since “the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).
Current day Israel’s mistake is to assume their blessing and dominance over those who do not recognize their right to exist, represents Heaven’s approval of whatever they feel is appropriate to support the Jewish state, even when they cast a blind eye to the Holy One of Israel. What is an All Wise God to do? “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion” (Romans 9:15). God’s toleration of Gentile or Jewish unrighteousness is no more His approval than for any sin; but, “surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain” (Psalm 76:10 KJV). The God of Prophecy will accomplish His will with Israel “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25-26 NIV).
Jesus Said It Would Be This Way
[1] Jesus warned of the upcoming Disappearance or Snatching Away (Rapture) — “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, seize, snatch away] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17) — so many will undoubtedly repent and believe after they realize what they missed. “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe” (John 14:29).
[2] Jesus warned of the upcoming Abomination of Desolation, which means
[a] The Jews must be back in the land of Israel (1948).
[b] A Temple must be rebuilt on Temple Mount in Jerusalem, in order for
[c] Sacrifices to take take place during the Tribulation Week.
[d] Antichrist will then commit the Abomination of Desolation demanding all to worship him as God in the middle of the Seventieth Week of Daniel. “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mark 13:14). Cp. “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).
[3] Jesus outlined the events of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Tribulation Week) in the NT Book of Revelation. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” (Revelation 1:1).
[a] The Book of Revelation is a coherent outline of Church History until the New Heavens and New Earth. “Write the things which you have seen [PAST], and the things which are [PRESENT], and the things which will take place after this [FUTURE]” (Revelation 1:19).
[b] Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor are represented in Revelation 2-3. Each church represents a successive stage of Church History, beginning with the Apostolic Church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) and ending with the Lukewarm Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).
[c] Revelation 4:1 through 19:21 represent the events of the Tribulation Week (Seventieth Week of Daniel) culminating in the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-21).
[d] The Millennium is an actual 1,000 year period (Revelation 20:1-6), where Messiah Jesus reigns from Jerusalem on the Davidic Throne (Psalm 132:11-12), culminating in the Final Rebellion (Revelation 20:7-9), the casting of Satan into the Lake of Fire (20:10), the White Throne Judgment of the Wicked (20:11-15), then the New Heavens and New Earth (21:1-27), and Eternity beyond (22:1-20).
In conclusion, the study of Bible Prophecy is the capstone of understanding what God intends to do. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is the Author, Illuminator, and Teacher of Bible Prophecy. God will not leave His people without a Divine Guide to show us the way until we enter His presence with thanksgiving. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers” (1Peter 4:7).
Prophecy is the ‘what’ that will happen of Things to Come, and all the rest of Scripture is only a glimpse of the ‘why’ of the Infinite Mind of God explaining His actions. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 