Immanuel

Arno Froese

These few verses reveal the two-fold coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ: 1) His birth in Bethlehem and 2) His physical return to the Mount of Olives. His coming is also twofold in purpose: 1) for the salvation of Israel and 2) to judge the nations and establish the thousand-year kingdom of peace.

King Ahaz

Isaiah 7:14 was proclaimed under very peculiar circumstances. This statement was not made to a king who loved the Lord and followed the law, but to evil King Ahaz, who introduced idolatrous customs to the people of Judah.

Isaiah 8:19 warns the people under Ahaz’s rule: “when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?”

Further record of the king’s evil-doings is documented in 2 Kings 23:12: “And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.” Yet, it is this king
to whom this tremendous revelation is addressed: “Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above” (Isaiah 7:10-11). Here again we see God’s longsuffering, mercy and grace at work: Ahaz was given another chance. King Ahaz’s heart was hardened and his mind dulled. He did not understand God’s intention
for the people of Judah and Israel, nor did he know about the horrifying darkness that was upon the entire Gentile world. In other words, he didn’t care. Thus, he answered,“I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD” (verse 12).

A Virgin Shall Conceive

Next comes the prophecy: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (verse 14). Immanuel means “God with us” or “with us is God.” This should have been a reminder to King Ahaz and to the people of Israel of God’s promise to Moses: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto
thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).

This prophecy was spoken more than 700 years before Isaiah revealed a closer identity regarding the Messiah and pointed out the miracle of the virgin birth.

We do well to read the fulfillment that took place approximately 742 years later: “But while he [Joseph] thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth
a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:20-23).

Salvation

Again we read the name Immanuel, yet Joseph was instructed to “call His name Jesus.” What was the difference? This is simply a more detailed revelation. Jesus is the English translation of the Hebrew word Yeshua, which means “Jehovah is salvation.” This is an individual salvation based on the New Covenant.

The prophet Jeremiah foretold of this New Covenant more than 600 years before Christ was born: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31).

Forgiveness of sins based on the shed blood of the perfect Lamb, the Lamb of God, which carries away the sins of the world, was something new to the Jews. But there is no salvation outside of the forgiveness of sin, and sin cannot be forgiven unless it has been paid for.

In one instance, a sick man was brought to Jesus, who said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2). That really shocked the religious authorities, who were the Bible scholars of that time, because there was no provision under the Old Covenant for the forgiveness of sin. The blood of animal sacrifices only covered the sins of Israel; it never took them away. Hebrews 10:4 confirms: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Therein is the difference between the Old and the New Covenant.

That was a foreign concept to the religious people, who protested, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7). This is true even today. Many still protest the provision of God’s salvation because they have been deceived by the father of lies, who fools people into believing they can be saved without being forgiven of their sins through Jesus Christ, the only name under heaven whereby man can be saved.

Time of Apostasy

The prophecy of the coming Messiah was proclaimed during a time of great apostasy on the one hand, and a threat of destruction from Israel’s enemy on the other.

With this statement, we come to our time when we see that apostasy, as revealed in Scripture, is in full swing in spite of all the religious activity taking place. At the same time, people are becoming extremely insecure and fearful . We can see the beginning of what is yet to come, prophesied by the Lord Himself: “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which
are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21: 26).

The End of Israel

In the midst of this horrible proclamation of judgment is the prophecy that a virgin would conceive and His name would be Immanuel: “God with us.” The end of the kingdom of Israel was also being proclaimed: “For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people” (Isaiah 7:8). Ephraim would cease as a nation. Ephraim represents the ten-tribe Israel, as evident in the next verse: “and the head of Ephraim is Samaria.”

The prophecy of the coming Messiah is followed by the reason Ephraim/Israel was rejected: because “Ephraim departed from Judah.” This brings to mind Jacob’s death-bed prophecy involving his 12
sons: “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:8-10). This Scripture makes it clear that the 12 tribes of Israel found their identity only in the tribe of Judah, which meant all had to become Jews. We often misuse the word “Jew” and assign the term to the 12 tribes of Israel before Judah was led into Babylonian captivity. But the word “Jew” only properly applies to those
who were integrated into the tribe of Judah. This is reinforced in 2 Chronicles 15:9: “And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.”

O Immanuel

The incarnation of Christ in the midst of the people of Israel was such a tremendous event that we cannot fully comprehend it, nor can we justly express it in human terms. The Creator of heaven and earth came down to earth and dwelled among men.

Solomon asked this incomprehensible question, “But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!” (2 Chronicles 6:18). This question was part of Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the earthly temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. In answer to his prayer, we read, “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house” (2 Chronicles 7:1-2). God added His “Amen” to Solomon’s prayer and His glory filled the temple to such an extent that not even the priests could perform their tasks. Thus, the presence of the Lord — not our own doings — is decisive. He is the answer to all things.

Seeing Is Believing

How did Israel react to this wonderful, visible demonstration of God’s pre sence in the temple in Jerusalem? “And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the
LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever” (2 Chronicles 7:3). Here we recognize one problem; they saw. Israel based its confession on the visible supernatural appearance of the glory of God without having faith in the living God.

Later in history, David wrote: “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel” (Psalm 103:7). Israel saw the result, the acts of God, but Moses knew the way; he had
faith in the living God. For Israel, it was impossible to comprehend that God was with them, and the Bible records their continuous unbelief in the fulfillment of prophecy, particularly concerning Immanuel.

Judah Judged

Again, severe judgment is proclaimed upon Judah/Israel in Isaiah 8:8: “And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the s t retching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.” It seems as if Isaiah interrupted his proclamation of judgment when he suddenly exclaimed: “O Immanuel.”

Only the presence of the living God among us can save us from the horrible judgment coming upon the world. That is the Good News for all who believe in Jesus Christ, because He has promised: “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). That is for believers in Immanuel. He will never forsake us, for we have been given the assurance of our permanent salvation, the abiding of the Holy Spirit who shall be with us always. We have received “the earnest” (Ephesians 1:14).

Gentiles Included

There is more. “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (verse 10).

What a glorious message: “to it shall the Gentiles seek.” This grace is as incomprehensible to us as it was to the Jews in Jerusalem when this proclamation was made.

We have to remember that God instructed Israel to be separate from the Gentiles. As a matter of fact, on one occasion Jesus made reference to the Gentiles when He said, “It is not good to cast the bread before the dogs.” But the mystery of the New Covenant of grace was promised to all of God’s creation. God promised Abraham “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

Later in history Paul explained to the Ephesians: “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Ephesians 3:4-6). Praise God, Christ, Immanuel: God with us!

The Hidden Sanctuary

Isaiah did not fail to clearly identify Immanuel: “he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken” (Isaiah 8:14-15). This is a fascinating prophecy that reveals the hidden desire for Israel throughout the ages: “He shall be a sanctuary.” Later the prophet Ezekiel confirmed, “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come” (Ezekiel 11:16).

Stumbling Stone

Also, He is “a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense.” We read of the fulfillment in the New Testament: “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 9:33).

Another important issue to note is “both the houses of Israel,” which refers to Israel/Judah and ten-tribe Israel. Although the ten-tribe Israel ceased to exist as an independent identity, all that joined the tribe of Judah kept their identity. This is documented in Revelation 7.

Light in Darkness

The Messiah of Israel, the sanctuary and stumbling stone will appear to people who are in darkness: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). It’s quite amazing that it speaks of the people of Israel, the chosen ones. Moses wrote: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2). Now, if these people are in darkness, then how dark and hopeless must our situation as Gentiles be?

It seems that one of the most neglected subjects in the Church today is the realization of man’s utter hopelessness. We may pride ourselves on many different things, but they, too, are darkness, even more than we can possible imagine.

Ephesians 2:12 describes our hopeless position: “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of p romise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” But I am happy to say that there is hope in the next verse: “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). That is the coming of the Messiah, not only for Israel, but for the entire world: “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Greatest Danger

The greatest danger the world finds itself in is its ignorance re g a rding its position towards the God of Israel. If only the politicians and the great men of this world would even remotely realize the hopelessness they and their nation find themselves in, they would indeed repent in sackcloth and ashes. But pride hinders the overwhelming majority of mankind from coming to the blessed realization that they are sinners lost for all eternity and subject to Satan and his cunning devices, with no chance whatsoever to escape on their own power. But there is one way: through the Person who said, “I am the way.”

Keep Christ in or out of Christmas?

Whether you keep Christ in or out of Christmas has no relationship to the coming of Jesus Christ for you personally. If you have not permitted Him to take your prideful, selfish and arrogant life and transform it by the power of the Holy Spirit into a lowly, unnoticed servant, then you are in great danger. Without Jesus — Immanuel — you can look forward to a horrible eternal judgment. May our Lord in His grace give you that moment of light so you may come out of the terrifying darkness of the valley of the shadow of death and enter His glorious light.

The Prince of Peace

The prophet Isaiah continued to proclaim judgment, oppression, war, blood and fire and then suddenly said: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He is the child prophesied in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” He is the One who proclaimed after His resurrection: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).

But at this point there is no visible manifestation of the power of Christ on earth. He is not ruling the governments; Satan is, for he is clearly identified in Scripture as the prince of darkness and the god of this world. However, Satan cannot supersede the authority of Jesus Christ. His action is limited and so is his time, which is confirmed in Revelation 12:12: “He [Satan] knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

When we read that “the government shall be upon his shoulder,” then we know it will take place. There’s no question about it; it’s only a matter of earthly time when it will be implemented.

Doubtless, this speaks of Jesus, the only Begotten Son of God. But read the other descriptions of His name: “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” This is Immanuel. This child. A Son.

Wonderful

In Psalm 119 we read: “thy testimonies are wonderful.” What are these testimonies? “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (verse 130). “Wonderful” is identical with the word John introduced the Gospel to show the identity of the Word of God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (verses 1-3).

The Lord’s wisdom is revealed in Isaiah 40, and we read in verse 14: “With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge,
and shewed to him the way of understanding?” Later in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul identified “Wonderful”: “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). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the beginning of all things. He is also the Author and Finisher of our faith, He is the Wonderful in person!

Mighty God

Psalm 50:1 identifies the Mighty God as the Creator, who spoke all things into existence. Isaiah revealed Israel’s future when its national conversion will take place: “The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God” (Isaiah 10:21). The Mighty God was also revealed in Jacob’s blessings upon his 12 sons when he turned to Joseph and said: “But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24). Here, too, we see Immanuel, God with us, revealed.

Moses also revealed the Lord God as the Mighty God: “Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible” ( Deuteronomy 7:21).

Everlasting Father

When Jesus said, “I and My Father are one,” He revealed that His name includes “Everlasting Father.” Isaiah 63:16 says: “Doubtless thou art our father… thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.” When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He replied, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy ame” (Matthew 6:9).

The Prince of Peace

Peace for mankind has been the goal and desire of all people of all times. Every nation describes itself as peace loving or peaceful. But when we take a closer look, we find that such a description is far from the truth. We may call ourselves a peaceful nation, but that does not mean others agree: often they see us as a violent and brutal nation. In other words, the peace that man proclaims is not the peace of God.

There is one problem with every peace treaty and peace proclamation. They all deal with countless issues and variables, but they don’t deal with the only issue of real importance: sin! There cannot be peace on earth unless sin has been dealt with. Peace may be found for one nation, but that is only achieved by the oppression of another nation or people.

Unfortunately, most, if not all people have swallowed the national propaganda bait hook, line and sinker: we are fighting for peace and righteousness.

The Bible says our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

True and False Peace

The peace described in the Bible is different. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). He emphasized the distinct difference between the peace He gives and the peace the world offers. Therefore, don’t ever permit your thoughts to wander away from the truth of God and accept the substitute that is offered by the world and its Lucifer-led propaganda machine.

There simply is no peace on earth; there never was peace and there never will be peace unless sin is dealt with. That is exactly what Jesus did. Our Prince of Peace is the only deliverer of sin, because He paid the price: “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

I do hope you recognize the grave danger and evil you commit when you think or say, “We are fighting for peace.” You are rejecting Scripture’s definition that this present world is evil. You are contradicting the Word of God in believing that there is an exception, that part of this world or some nation actually does not belong “to this present evil world.”

We reemphasize: the world can never produce peace because the world is by nature corrupt, evil and sinful. Therefore, peace is only a distant dream impossible to realize. Here is the identity of real peace: “He [Jesus Christ] is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).

The Only Peace

Never must we permit ourselves to talk lightly of the word peace, because peace carries a price, not the price of soldiers who fight with weapons of war, but the price of the Son of God who poured out His life in His blood on Calvary’s cross. That is the only way to bring peace to the world and fulfill that which is written in Luke 2:10, 14: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people...Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” There is no peace on earth; there is no good will toward man...but it will come.

Read what this child called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace will do: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7).

MidnightCall Magazine

August 2010

News From Israel Magazine

August 2010

Immanuel

King Ahaz

A Virgin Shall Conceive

Salvation

Time of Apostasy

The End of Israel

O Immanuel

Seeing Is Believing

Judah Judged

Gentiles Included

The Hidden Sanctuary

Stumbling Stone

Light in Darkness

Greatest Danger

Keep Christ in or out of Christmas?

The Prince of Peace

Wonderful

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

The Prince of Peace

True and False Peace

The Only Peace