THE SPIRITUAL FULFILMENT:
To understand Isaiah 29:1-13, try to recall as an example how people felt while celebrating the festivities of Christmas. Remember how they eagerly anticipated its arrival, and how they made extensive preparations for it? But do you also recall their general spirit disposition afterwards? Wouldn't you agree that their spirit was tired and "dried out"? For God warned: "Thus it will occur with the crowd of all the nations that are waging war against Mount Zion". (Isaiah 29:8). But why do they feel "dried out" afterwards? The answer, is that by such activities they are warring against the Spirit of God, invoking His disapproval, and causing Him to "make things tight for Ar'i.el". Jehovah God has chosen to use this expression to describe the only sacred place where His people may offer their spirit sacrifices before Him. He refers to this place as Ar'i.el: The Altar Hearth of God. (Isaiah 29:1,2,7).

Christmas festivities are an excuse for excessive over-indulgence. The reason for the phrase: "Woe to Ar'i.el, to Ar'i.el" (29:1) is that God prophecies woe to the spiritual place where people make approach to Him with their spirit sacrifices. Woe, particularly against those with warring natures, those even attributing Christ's name to such idolatry as the pagan celebration of Christmas "while this (His) house is waste". (Haggai 1:4. Christendom is not God's House).

God has promised: "And I have to make things tight for Ar'i.el, and there must come to be mourning and lamentation, and she must become to me as the altar hearth of God." (Isaiah 29:2). There are, of course, many other sinful ways by which mankind make things tight for themselves, such that their unclean sacrifices are unacceptable to Him; whereas His righteous servants are still permitted to offer their faithful spirit sacrifices upon His "altar".

"LET THE FESTIVALS RUN THE ROUND." (Isaiah 29:1).
In fulfilment today, to all those claiming to be people of spiritual "Jerusalem" worldwide, whether truly or falsely, (and not just to the town where David encamped), God has said: "Add year upon year, you people; let the festivals run the round. And I have to make things tight for Ar'i.el". (29:1,2). Why? "For the reason that this people have come near with their mouth, and they have glorified Me merely with their lips, and they have removed their heart itself far away from Me, and their fear toward Me becomes men's commandment that is being taught… and the wisdom of their wise men must perish, and the very understanding of their discreet men will conceal itself." (From 29:13,14). In fact, it is to false prophets and visionaries that God gives further warning: "Woe to those who are going very deep in concealing counsel from Jehovah Himself, and whose deeds have occurred in a dark place, while they say: "Who is seeing us, and who is knowing of us?" (29:15).

Christmas, its source and promotion, is an example of "a dark place"; one of many festivals running the round from year to year. After he had accomplished the said Will of God, Christ inaugurated his "evening meal", commemorating the symbolic meaning of his death and its benefits. (1 Cor 11:23-34). This has nothing to do with the celebration of the birth of the infant Jesus before he became The Christ. Therefore, by celebrating a commandment of men people make things tight for themselves (Isaiah 29:13), making their approach to God difficult, for He deliberately makes it difficult for them. So much so, that after their rebellious festivals are over, they feel as if it was all a dream; for after having eaten and drunk to excess, their spirits are still unfulfilled for yet another year. "…and here he is tired and his soul is dried out". (29:8). People should celebrate God's festivals of the booths. (Zech 14:16-19).

Celebrators of Christmas, read of your position before God: "Woe to Ar'i.el to Ar'i.el, the town where David encamped! Add year upon year, you people; let the festivals run the round. And I have to make things tight for Ar'i.el, and there must come to be mourning and lamentation, and she must become to me as the altar hearth of God… And it must occur just as in a dream, in a vision of the night, regarding the crowd of all the nations that are waging war against Ar'i.el, even all those waging war against her, and the siege towers against her and those making things tight for her. Yes, it must occur just as when someone hungry dreams and here he is eating, and he actually awakes and his soul is empty; and just as when someone thirsty dreams and here he is drinking, and he actually awakes and here he is tired and his soul is dried out; thus it will occur with the crowd of all the nations that are waging war against Mount Zion. Linger, you men, and be amazed; blind yourselves, and be blinded. They have become intoxicated, but not with wine; they have moved unsteadily, but not because of intoxicating liquor. For upon you men Jehovah has poured a spirit of deep sleep; and He closes your eyes, the prophets, and He has covered even your heads, the visionaries." (From Isaiah 29:1-13).

PREVIOUS
◄     PAGE

SUBJECT
INDEX

HOME
PAGE

SCRIPTURE
INDEX

NEXT
    PAGE►