Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:7 continues the theme of the Jewish nation being redeemed from exile. Line 7 tells of a messenger bringing Israel the good tidings of her redemption from exile. "How beautiful are the feet of the herald on the mountains, announcing peace, heralding good tidings, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, "Your G-d has manifested His kingdom." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:7. Was Israel in exile during the lifetime of Jesus? No. 2000 years ago the Jews had returned from Babylonian exile (although many Jews lived outside of the land). Were the Jews returned from exile to the land of Israel during Jesus' lifetime? No. Far from Jesus returning the Jews from exile, thus fulfilling the vision, the Jews were exiled in 135 CE -- about 100 years after Jesus' supposed death. Even though the land of Israel was formed as a country after a 2,000 year absence (1948) even until today there are still Jews living in exile. Did Jesus announce peace: No. 2000 years ago in Judah the Romans ruled with cruelty -- the very opposite of peace. The Romans crucified over 50,000 Jews. ידידיה הכהן / Yedidia HaKohen (Jedediah the Priest) also known as Philo lived in the time of Pilate (c. 25 BCE – c. 50 CE). He wrote in Legatione ad Caium wrote of Pilate "He feared they . . . might impeach him (Pilate). . .in respect to the his corruption, his acts of insolence, and his rapine and his habit of insulting people, and his continual murder of persons untried and uncondemned, and his never ending, and gratuitous and most grievous inhumanity." He also wrote of Pilate: "his venality, his violence, his thefts, his assaults, his abusive behavior, his frequent executions of untried prisoners, and his endless savage ferocity” (Gaium 302, circa 40 CE). Josephus' "War of the Jews" (2.175-177), wrote that Pilate "foreseeing the tumult, had interspersed among the crowd a troop of his soldiers, armed but disguised in civilian dress, with orders not to use their swords, but to beat any rioters with cudgels. He now from his tribunal gave the agreed signal. Large numbers of the Jews perished, some from the blows which they received, others trodden to death by their companions in the ensuing flight. Cowed by the fate of the victims, the multitude was reduced to silence." Jesus did not fulfill the prophecy of peace. Jesus did not fulfill any of the prophecies found in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:7. Luke 4:14 and 15 speak of Jesus teaching in the Galilee. It says nothing of Jesus publishing or teaching "good tidings of peace." Luke 4:18 (which is not claimed by the list maker) says that Jesus proclaimed good news to the poor (nothing about peace) -- but most Christian sources tie this supposed proof text to Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1,2, not Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:7. Even if Luke 4:14 and 15 did "match" Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:7 it would not matter. Yet again the list maker has taken a passage out of context and yet again the list maker takes this out of context idea (teaching good tidings of peace) that every preacher espouses on a regular basis and claims it is a messianic prophecy. Not even close. Read this passage in context. Isaiah praises the messenger who will announce peace and herald salvation. The watchmen of the cities will sing when they see G-d restore the Jews to Jerusalem. The ruins that were left from the exile will rejoice in Jerusalem’s restoration. G-d has revealed His might – all the nations will see His salvation (which does not refer to the immortal soul but the the physical life being rescued from danger).
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Photos used under Creative Commons from dionhinchcliffe, paulasenciogonzalez, paulasenciogonzalez, amy32080, petersbar, Aaron Stokes, amboo who?, Damian Gadal, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, SharonaGott, Udo Schröter, paulasenciogonzalez, Joybot, zeevveez, ianmunroe, freeqstyler, quinn.anya, Ivy Nichols, Groman123, UnknownNet Photography, torbakhopper, “Caveman Chuck” Coker, CarbonNYC [in SF!], dgoomany, Lion Multimedia Production U.S.A., oldandsolo, dbeck03