The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom and guidance, but it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they believe it. Many people spend their time reading blogs and social media fluff, but how many are willing to study the Bible, let alone read it in its entirety and try to decipher its prophetic meanings? These messages from Yahweh are meant to be revealed when the time is right, and we have arrived at that time. The book is open, and it is our duty to understand it.
In the Book of Daniel, chapter 12, verse 4, God says to Daniel, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end.” This means that the prophecies that Daniel had written down were not to be fully understood until the end times, when they would be fulfilled. It is clear that God had a special purpose for Daniel’s prophecies. He wanted them to be preserved and understood in the end times, when they would provide guidance and hope to His people.
It is known that the prophets predicted that Jesus would come to earth as a Messiah to save His people from their sins. They also predicted that He would return one day to judge the living and the dead and to establish His eternal kingdom. The prophets warned that God would judge the nations for their wickedness and that He would punish those who refused to repent. However, they also promised that God would show mercy to those who turned to Him in faith.
In addition to these general themes, the Bible also contains specific prophecies about the future, such as the rise and fall of empires, the outbreak of wars and natural disasters, and the restoration of Israel. In fact, we have already seen God’s plan being fulfilled in History. Except for the end time event, known as the Day of the LOrd or The Second Coming of Christ.
A theme can be visualised from the rise and fall of Israel:
Israel was chosen by God to be His special people, but they repeatedly rebelled against Him. God used the exile to discipline them and bring them back to Himself. The story of Israel is a story of triumph, tragedy, hope, and God’s sovereignty.
The Rise of Israel: The Israelites were a people who descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were enslaved in Egypt for many years, but God eventually delivered them through Moses. The Israelites then wandered in the desert for 40 years before entering the Promised Land.
Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites conquered the Promised Land and divided it among 12 tribes. The Israelites then lived in the Promised Land for many years, and they experienced both periods of prosperity and periods of hardship.
The Split into Northern Israel and Southern Judah: In 931 BC, the nation of Israel split into two kingdoms: Northern Israel and Southern Judah. On the surface the split appear to be caused by a number of factors, including political disagreements and religious disputes. But the underlying issue is sin.
The Fall of Israel and Judah: Northern Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC. The people of Northern Israel were taken into exile, and many of them never returned. Southern Judah fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC. The people of Southern Judah were also taken into exile, but they were allowed to return to their homeland after 70 years.
The Exile of the People of Israel and Judah: The people of Northern Israel were exiled for an indefinite period of time. Many of them never returned to their homeland, and they were eventually assimilated into other cultures. The people of Southern Judah were exiled for 70 years. After 70 years, they were allowed to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
In Isaiah 43:10, God is speaking to His people Israel, who have been in exile in Babylon for many years. They are feeling discouraged and hopeless, but God reminds them that He is still in control and that He has a plan for their future. He tells them that He will deliver them from exile and bring them back to their homeland. He also promises to bless them and to make them a light to the nations.
God concludes His message by saying, “so that you will know I am God.”
In the book of Isaiah, chapter 43, verse 10. The LORD GOD made a powerful statement of HIS sovereignty and His desire to be known by His people. The phrase “so that you will know I am God” is a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty, His love, and His judgment. The phrase “so that you will know I am God” appears several other times in the Bible, including in Exodus 6:7, Jeremiah 16:21, and Ezekiel 20:26. In each of these instances, God is speaking to His people who have been rebellious and disobedient. He is reminding them of His power and His love, and He is warning them of the consequences of their sin. It is a reminder that He is the one true God and that He is worthy of our worship and obedience. Throughout the book of Isaiah, God reveals Himself as the one true God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is the God who is holy and just, yet also merciful and forgiving. He is the God who is in control of history and who is working out His plan of salvation for all of humankind.
The book of Isaiah is divided into two parts, and scholars generally agree that the second part of the book, which includes Isaiah 45, was written during the Babylonian exile, which began in 586 BC. This means that the prophecy in Isaiah 45 could possibly been spoken even closer to the time of Cyrus’ birth. But the fact that the prophecy in Isaiah 45 was spoken before Cyrus was born is a powerful testimony to the accuracy of the Bible and to God’s sovereignty over history. God knew who Cyrus was and what he would do long before he was even born.
God is the one who appoints rulers. In Isaiah 45, it is a chapter in the Book of Isaiah that contains a prophecy about the rise of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king. Cyrus the Great was predicted, through the prophet, to conquer Babylon and liberate the Israelites from captivity before he was even born. The chapter also contains a declaration of God’s sovereignty and His power to save.
The chapter begins with God speaking to Cyrus, calling him by name and anointing him as His shepherd. God promises to give Cyrus victory over his enemies and to exalt him. He also promises to go before Cyrus and to help him fulfil His purpose. In verses 5-6, God declares that He is the only true God and that there is no other god like Him. He says that He formed the light and created darkness, and that He makes peace and creates disaster. He also says that He is the one who calls Cyrus and that He is working through him to accomplish His purposes. In verses 7-13, God promises to bless the Israelites and to bring them back to their homeland. He says that He will create a new heaven and a new earth and that He will dwell with His people forever. He also promises to give them peace and prosperity.
Isaiah 45 is a powerful chapter of the Bible that declares God’s sovereignty and His power to save. It is a chapter that contains both warning and hope for the Israelites. It warns them of the consequences of their sin, but it also promises them that God will deliver them and bring them back to His favor. This is a reminder to the Israelites that they are not alone and that they have a God who loves them and cares for them. It is also a reminder to us all that God is the one true God and that He is worthy of our worship and obedience. The prophecy in Isaiah 45 is also a reminder of God’s love and faithfulness to his people. Even though the Israelites were in exile, God had not forgotten them. He had a plan for their future, and He would use Cyrus to deliver them. Some biblical scholars believe that Cyrus is a foreshadowing of the Messiah.
It is important to note that Bible prophecy is not always easy to understand. Some prophecies are symbolic and require interpretation. Others are conditional and depend on human choices. However, all Bible prophecy is ultimately trustworthy and reliable. God has promised that His Word will not fail to come to pass (Isaiah 55:11).
The restoration of Israel: The prophets predicted that God would restore Israel to its former glory and that He would establish His eternal kingdom in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 37:21-28, Zechariah 8:20-23). Literally, this restoration took place in 1948. What do we watch next?
Here is a brief summary of some of the most important Bible prophecies:
- The return of Jesus Christ: Jesus Himself predicted His return in the New Testament (Matthew 24:27). The prophets also spoke about His return in detail, such as in Daniel 7 and Revelation 19.
- The judgment of God: The prophets warned that God would judge the nations for their wickedness and that He would punish those who refused to repent (Isaiah 13-23, Jeremiah 25-29, Ezekiel 25-32). However, they also promised that God would show mercy to those who turned to Him in faith (Joel 2:12-13, Jonah 3:10).
Bible Prophecy 