After Darkness, Light
Notes
Transcript
God created the world, He said that it is very good. Then He created man, man was very good. Man walked and lived in the light of God until one day when we fell to the wiles of the devil. When man desired to be like God more than we enjoyed being with God. We fell into darkness.
There was hope that was given, the first gospel.
Genesis 3:15
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
He, being Satan shall bruise the heel of the offspring of the woman. But the offspring of the woman would crush his head.
This is why the messiah had to come from the offspring of the woman. Why Jesus had to be a man. This is why He was born as a gift for us, why we celebrate this season.
God was gracious to the people of Israel, He revealed to them His character through the law. He gave other laws to protect them from food born illness, He gave laws separate them from the other people of the earth, He gave them festivals and traditions that in the end pointed them to Him. But they kept going astray.
The more they strayed from the words that God had given them, the more they sank farther into spiritual darkness.
Later on a prophecy was given to the people. In the midst of their gloom, from their darkness. When the people had strayed away from God and went after false gods.
Isaiah 9:2
After the darkness, comes light. The people who have been so lost, for such a long time. The people who were set apart to be the people of God.
This is the point of hope that God is giving through Isaiah. Though you have been suffering, though your suffering will get worse there is a time when the darkness will end, there is a time when you will see a great light.
This was written around 730 B.C, Over 700 years before it would find it’s fulfillment in Christ and around 200 years before they would be allowed to return to Israel. When you think about that time frame remember it’s only been 244 years that America has been an independent nation.
Sometimes the darkness seems to last for a long time.
Notice the tense that the author uses. This happening was so certain that Isaiah writes it in the past tense, as if had already happened.
Why was it certain? God had decreed it. The length of time doesn’t matter when the omnipotent one who has decreed what will happen and sees the end as clearly as He sees the beginning makes the statement “this will happen.”
When the light has shown on them, what would they be looking forward to? What was the light going to look like?
v.6-7
Some of what we see is the first advent, some the second. Some find their fulfillment in both.
A Child is Born
A Child is Born
The one to come would be a child, a son. The messiah wouldn’t be descending from heaven.
One large difference between the first and second advent, the first He came humbly as a child. The second He is coming in glory as the King.
The Government Shall be Upon His Shoulders
The Government Shall be Upon His Shoulders
He will carry the burden. The rule, the authority.
We won’t have a Republic, not a democracy, not a dictatorship, but a Theocracy. A government who the rule and reign shall be that of the messiah.
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
The government is on the shoulders of Christ. We know that He is currently in control of all things, however it isn’t until the final consummation, when he returns and does away with sin. The advent that we are looking to that things will be run His way.
Wonderful Counselor
Wonderful Counselor
The word is more accurately translated marvelous, or a miracle. Something that is unusual or extraordinary.
This is descriptive of the type of counsel He gives. It will not be any ordinary counsel.
This shows that it shall be counsel of wisdom.
This description would make the Israelite’s think of King Solomon. Who led the nation with wisdom into a time of great wealth.
But the one to come, the messiah is greater than Solomon.
At Jesus first advent He displayed this. From a young age he amazed the leaders with His wisdom.
Mighty God
Mighty God
The Messiah to come would be a warrior. One who who would protect His people.
We find this in two fold fulfillment.
1) God has conquered all
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God is mighty to save us from our sins and to keep anything from ever separating us from His love.
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
This is the second advent when we will see how mighty our God is and that none stand against Him.
Everlasting Father
Everlasting Father
The coming Messiah has no predecessor, he has not successor.
This is a statement of stability in the kingdom, the changing of king is a difficult time in any kingdom.
Prince of Peace
Prince of Peace
His kingdom is one that will be marked by peace. This is a two fold occurrence.
First is peace between man and God.
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
This isn’t peace between men as there will be in the kingdom of God. But peace between man, and God. How amazing is it that we no longer have to worry about making God angry. That we have peace maybe not with man, but with God.
The second is peace on all the earth.
4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
It will be the messiah who will settle disputes. There will no longer be a need for weapons of war because in His kingdom there will be peace.
This hasn’t happened yet, this is what we wait for, what we look forward two with the second coming.
Zeal of the Lord
Zeal of the Lord
Not that the emotions or feelings of God are like ours, God is using this to show and describe the energy and passion that He has to make this come to pass.
Just as when man is passionate about making something happen, we will move heaven and earth to make it come to pass. With God, He literally can move heaven and earth. How much more likely is it that what God has decreed will happen.
Nothing will stop this from happening. The passion of the Lord, the working of the Lord. He will accomplish this no if and or but’s.
As we move into the advent season. Let us remember what we are looking forward to. Just as Israel was looking for the coming of the messiah that found it’s fulfillment in the birth of Jesus, we are still looking for an advent. The advent of the second coming of Jesus. This time He is coming to establish His kingdom. This time He is coming not as a baby, but a conquering king.