E27.05.87.htm

(Cont. from Page 20/5/87).

AN EXEGESIS OF ISAIAH CHAPTER 29 AND
FURTHER TO "WOE TO AR'I.EL, TO AR'I.EL".

Originally, the exalted "O City where David encamped!" was the Mount Zion of literal Jerusalem. (29:1 Moffatt). In the present-day fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy, the "hearth and altar" that Jehovah has pressed upon and besieged (barred communication with and access to) are individual anointed future members of heavenly "Jerusalem" still on earth; earthly members of the "altar" of God in the final part of this system of things. (29:2 Moffatt). Through these, Jehovah had voiced His instructions by the Mediator, their brother Jesus the First Christ and first perfected one. (See: Heavenly "Mount Zion" in Hebrews 12:22-24).

By Jehovah besieging close His spiritual "altar" class (29:3 Moffatt), all communications being offered through His "altar", and issued from His "altar" to others, are terminated. This is a cause for grief, as His "altar" class carry knowledge of spiritual sacrifice and opportunity by which our Lifegiver saves the allowance of approach to Him for life now, and for immortality.

This besieging was made manifest by the Spirit of God pressing upon the spirits of each of His faithful anointed sons, even reducing their ability to speak to "a faint low twitter", humbling them, and on occasion completely removing their inspiration to speak. (29:4 Moffatt).

All this followed the ostracism they experienced from rebel sons who tyrannically pressed and distressed them by a dispiriting evil work against the "altar" class of God. (29:7 Moffatt RSV). While Divine warnings from His "altar" class went unheeded, nevertheless Divine visions from God during that time are a matter of record.

"Punishment" is prophesied to come swiftly upon all those who pressed upon His "altar" class by oppressive spirit warring against them for having declared His instructions for the people. Enemies of His "altar" class shall be scattered "like chaff" (29:5 Moffatt) all who honoured Jehovah merely "with their lips, while their hearts are far remote", and whose religion is "a mockery" (29:13 Moffatt). They are the hypocrites who rely on the worldly shelter and counsel of "Egypt" for support. (See: 31:1 Moffatt and Rev 11:7,8). They have refused "visions from their [anointed] seers and true words from their prophets". (30:10 Moffatt). Their mounting guilt has become like a "high wall bulging to break, till swiftly, suddenly, down it crashes as a man smashes a pitcher in pieces". (30:12 14 Moffatt). It will leave nothing, not even a "shard" (the means) to go to the "altar hearth of God" for His instruction, or to collect (symbolically speaking) spirit "waters" of salvation to quench their deadly spirit thirst! (29:8 Moffatt).

After their exposure to the reality of having warred against the Spirit of Almighty God, they will awaken to the realisation of spirit hunger and thirst, to the hopelessness of their fate: Abandonment by God, causing them to lament in bitter grief. Especially so, for having once believed they were "eating" and "drinking" while hating and ostracising sons of God!

While Moffatt's translation of Isaiah chapter 29 and 30 is for the most part accurate, verse 6 of chapter 29 has been incorrectly translated, erroneously stating that God will punish His own altar ("you"). The New English Bible correctly translates this verse: The "punishment" is destined for "the horde of all the nations warring against Ariel". (29:5-7 NEB). Those using the authority of this "darkness" to fabricate charges against the poor folk of spiritual "Mount Zion" will end up alone, their wickedness publicly exposed for all to see. They will be like a lonely signal pole on a mountain-top. (30:17 Moffatt).

(Cont. on Page 8/6/87).

27/5/87.