LIVING IN ANXIOUS EXPECTATION
Isaiah 40:1-5 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Even though this was given to Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth we can see that it certainly happened. God did this purposely to help people like you and me to believe and trust in Jesus. Yet even though people may know of this verse many still do not believe. Every year at Passover Jews all over the world set aside a chair and a table setting for Elijah to come, and be that voice crying out preparing the way for the their Lord and Messiah. Even if the facts are presented, it is up to the person to want to believe the truth. Doubt is a destroyer of hope and without hope there will be no faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb 11:6)
In Matthew 17:12 we see where the disciples were coming down the mountain, and they asked Jesus about Elijah coming first. Jesus responded that Elijah did come but they did not recognize him and then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist. Even though prophecy was fulfilled right before them they were not discerning enough to recognize it. It still happens today with millions of people all over the world.
Just take Isaiah’s prophecy about Israel’s sin being paid for. Rabbis’ and Jews in general have read this and hope for it’s fulfillment, but few understand and have received that fulfillment in Jesus. Daniel 9:20-27 is a very important passage regarding the assurance of Jesus fulfilling this promise as well as the seven years of tribulation. It begins with Israel being sent into exile to Babylon in 606 BC because of idol worship in the Southern Kingdom. In Jeremiah 25:11 we see that God decreed their exile for 70 years. At the end of the 70 years a Persian King named Cyrus set the Jews free to return to Israel but few went. By them not obeying God and going back to their Promised Land, God extended their captivity to 70 x7 or 490 years as we see in Lev 26:18. At the end of this 490 years they will finish their transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. This will happen when Jesus returns at the end of the 7 years of tribulation. At this time the Jews well receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and stop their disobedience toward God. As long as they reject Jesus they are living in disobedience to God. Along with this prophecy is the 7 sevens and the 62 sevens. This is 483 years total. This number of years is important in that from the command to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem to the cutting off of the Messiah or crucifiction of Jesus is 483 years. This leaves 7 years left before the return of Jesus and the Jews accepting him as their Lord and Savior. Between the death of Jesus and the seven years of tribulation is the Christian church age. We do not know when the 7 years of tribulation will begin, but we do know that from what has already been fulfilled it will surely happen. We do know from prophecies that Jesus has given in Matt 24, and other prophecies regarding his return that his return is getting closer with each passing day and prophecy fulfilled. The thing we need to keep in mind is that prophecy was being fulfilled right in front of Jesus’ own disciples, and they did not recognize them because they were not looking for them. We can’t afford to not be looking for fulfilled prophecy that leads to the return of Jesus. We must be ready and this begins with asking Jesus to forgive us of our sins and to come into our heart. If you have not taken this first step to reconciliation with God and eternal life with God in heaven you need to do this right now. Next you need to study the Bible regarding Jesus return, while living each day practicing his presence in your life. Isaiah didn’t doubt the Lord’s prophecy given to him, or he would not have written it down for us. Let’s not be like the world that cares so little about being ready for it to be fulfilled.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, please get us prepared for Jesus’ return by living each day of our lives in anxious expectation for it. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
