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Choose Today! Mercy or Wrath? While the Lord’s Hand Stretches Out Still

September 6, 2026 Effie Barba Leave a comment

Throughout the book of Isaiah, God is presenting two roads for each individual. The same as today. Two roads. But which will you choose? No doubt, judgement is coming. It was for them in their day. And it is for us today. But the Lord’s Hand Stretches out Still. In one hand is Mercy and the other is Wrath. Which will you choose today. This is very clear, I think. I used to believe; it was referring to His hand of mercy in Isaiah 10. Many scholars believe it refers to His hand of wrath still being stretched out as it was with Egypt. However, carefully reading Isaiah, I now believe He is stretching out both His Mercy and His Wrath. Then, He asks us to choose which road we want to walk down today.

Up until now, we have witnessed His extreme patience with both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. He is telling the King of Judah that the Northern tribes are about to fall. Even though they had made a treaty with Syria. The Syrian Army joined forces with the northern tribes of Israel called the Ephraimites and came to war against the Tribes of Judah. This is where Isaiah is warning King Ahaz. Yet, King Ahaz was enamored with the idols and gods of Assyria, ignoring the One True God. Sound familiar to modern-day society? How foolish is man to continually repeat the same playbook that failed before. Well, I digress. So, King Ahaz will make a treaty with Assyria leading to Judah being a vassal state of Assyria.

Choose Today! Mercy or Wrath?

All of that is yet future as we open chapter 8. Wrath is coming. That is already determined. Yet, before that happens God warns them again. Not at this point to save the masses, but to save the remnant. Those with tender hearts of love for God. Whose eyes are wide open to the horrors around them. So must not get ahead of ourselves. That or of Mercy or Wrath is precisely what these next three chapters are about. A warning, a promise of a distant future blessing of mercy, and a choice for each to make. A remnant will always choose God’s mercy. But only a remnant, which is sad. We are at that same fork in the road in the world today. So, as we read, which will you choose today.

Moreover the Lord said to me, “Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.” Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; for before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 8: 1-4 NKJV

This time, Isaiah was carefully told to write the prophecies on a scroll and share with two witnesses. Why? So, the people will remember and know it was all written before it happened.

The Lord also spoke to me again, saying:

“Inasmuch as these people refused

The waters of Shiloah that flow softly,

And rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son;

Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them

The waters of the River, strong and mighty—

The king of Assyria and all his glory;

He will go up over all his channels

And go over all his banks.

He will pass through Judah,

He will overflow and pass over,

He will reach up to the neck;

And the stretching out of his wings

Will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.

“Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces!

Give ear, all you from far countries.

Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces;

Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces.

Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;

Speak the word, but it will not stand,

For God is with us.” Isaiah 8:5-10

You, foolish people chose Assyria and their gods over me. Therefore, Assyria will consume you. You will be overtaken by the ones you chose. Again, sound familiar today?

Choose Mercy not Wrath—Do Not Join the Conspiracy Theorists

For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:

“Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’

Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,

Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.

The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;

Let Him be your fear,

And let Him be your dread.

He will be as a sanctuary,

But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense

To both the houses of Israel,

As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And many among them shall stumble;

They shall fall and be broken,

Be snared and taken.”

Bind up the testimony,

Seal the law among my disciples.

And I will wait on the Lord,

Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;

And I will hope in Him.

Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!

We are for signs and wonders in Israel

From the Lord of hosts,

Who dwells in Mount Zion.

And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

They will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward. Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.

Isaiah 8: 11-21 NKJV

Wow! Did You Get that! Very clear. God told Isaiah to avoid the conspiracy theorists. How many are foolishly following all the conspiracy theorists of our day? From those who believe in the “Book of Enoch” to those multiple high profile social media conspirators. Beware, God has warned. And we see these cults growing faster every day. Not just around the world, but in the USA. Recent events tell us that.

So choose Mercy, not Wrath—a glimmer of hope

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,

As when at first He lightly esteemed

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

And afterward more heavily oppressed her,

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

In Galilee of the Gentiles.

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation

And increased its joy;

They rejoice before You

According to the joy of harvest,

As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For You have broken the yoke of his burden

And the staff of his shoulder,

The rod of his oppressor,

As in the day of Midian.

For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,

And garments rolled in blood,

Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The Punishment of Samaria

Isaiah 9:1-7 NKJV

Hallelujah! Amen! Jesus Came and He is coming again!

This prophecy was first fulfilled in His birth. Our absolute proof that He is returning. Shout for Joy, Christ will return to restore Israel. Yet, a little while the rapture of all we who are the bride of Christ, His church. Then, the final cleansing of His People, Israel during the tribulation. Remember the judgements will come in three phases. First what humanity perpetrates against all of creation. Then, Satan’s wrath. Finally the final wrath of God. (You can go to my YouTube channel and see the full series on Revelation done in early 2025, or search on my website which should bring up the full written series.)

Back to the Wrath to Come in Their Time

The Lord sent a word against Jacob,

And it has fallen on Israel.

All the people will know—

Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—

Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:

“The bricks have fallen down,

But we will rebuild with hewn stones;

The sycamores are cut down,

But we will replace them with cedars.”

Therefore, the Lord shall set up

The adversaries of Rezin against him,

And spur his enemies on,

The Syrians before and the Philistines behind;

And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.

For all this His anger is not turned away,

But His hand is stretched out still.

For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them,

Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts.

Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel,

Palm branch and bulrush in one day.

The elder and honorable, he is the head;

The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.

For the leaders of this people cause them to err,

And those who are led by them are destroyed.

Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men,

Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows;

For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,

And every mouth speaks folly.

For all this His anger is not turned away,

But His hand is stretched out still.

For wickedness burns as the fire;

It shall devour the briers and thorns,

And kindle in the thickets of the forest;

They shall mount up like rising smoke.

Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts

The land is burned up,

And the people shall be as fuel for the fire;

No man shall spare his brother.

And he shall snatch on the right hand

And be hungry;

He shall devour on the left hand

And not be satisfied;

Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.

Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh;

Together they shall be against Judah.

For all this His anger is not turned away,

But His hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 9:8-20 NKJV

Some have placed correlations between what happened then and what happened on 9/11/2026 in the United States. Some of it is fascinating, but all we need do is look at news to know we are close. That is exciting, but it also means we must be redeeming the time for His glory.

Well next week we will continue with Chapter 10 as probably more than can digest for now. Although it is the continuation. So, perhaps now you see why I believe, “His hand is stretched out still” means His wrath and His Mercy. You choose Mercy or Wrath. Which do you choose today.

Or in Spanish

Or visit my new website which is still in the works. But there I will be blogging about each poem which I am now creating into songs and video. Please consider subscribing so you will receive notification for each new website as songwriter. Available here and there. God is so Good.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

God’s Glory Revealed. What You See Next Will Surprise You

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2026

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. That is except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR. Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Common English Bible (CEB)

Picture Taken: Effie Darlene Barba

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God’s Word Never Fails: His Promises Absolutely are Always True

August 29, 2026 Effie Barba Leave a comment

As we continue through the book of Isaiah, we will note that Chapters 7 through 12 describe God’s promises in protecting His people both in the immediate and in the distant future. Since God lives outside of space and time, as I have mentioned before, so does the writings of Isaiah. Often the immediate is blended with the far distant prophecies. This is true in all the Old Testament Prophecies with often immediate and distant fulfillment of many prophecies. However, I believe this is most prevalent displayed in Isaiah, in which some are not immediate and distant fulfillments. Rather, they are at times distinctly present and/or future proving the future is true because God’s Word Never Fails in the present. Therefore, His promises will not fail in the future prophecies either. His Promises Absolutely are Always True.

Does it make our reading of the scriptures in Isaiah more complex to interpret. Perhaps, but they are so beautifully uplifting by their letting us see, God is NOT in OUR TIMELINE. His thoughts are so much higher than ours. He knows all before it ever happens. How comforting to know that none of what we are facing is unknown to Him. Instead He is using for our good. We can rest in His Promises Absolutely when He says, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV. He can say that because He already knows. And we can trust Him because His promises absolutely are always true. We see that proof throughout history. Therefore, we can continue to trust Him to fulfill and accomplish it all.

GOD’S WORD NEVER FAILS

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it. And it was told to the house of David, saying, “Syria’s forces are deployed in Ephraim.” So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind. Isaiah 7: 1-2 NKJV

So, the grandson of King Uzziah is now on the throne of Judah as chapter 7 opens. Meanwhile the King of Israel is Pekah who joins forces with Rezin the King of Syria. As joint forces their plan was to overtake Judah, divide the land and enact a regime change. They wanted to place a puppet king. Despite all the conflict and the fear within his heart, King Ahaz did not seek the Lord. So, God went to seek him instead.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field, and say to him: ‘Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying,“Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel”— thus says the Lord God:

“It shall not stand,

Nor shall it come to pass.

For the head of Syria is Damascus,

And the head of Damascus is Rezin.

Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken,

So that it will not be a people.

The head of Ephraim is Samaria,

And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son.

If you will not believe,

Surely you shall not be established.” ’ ” Isaiah 7: 3-9 NKJV

God sent a clear message. Do not worry about these two “smoldering logs” who have no real power. I will not allow them to continue. They will fail. Furthermore, within sixty-five years Ephraim (the chief tribe in Israel, thus representing all of the northern tribes). But if you, King Ahaz, do not believe me, you will not be established. Meaning, he will most likely die in battle. Or his heart will become so hardened that there could be no recovery for him. There reaches a moment when God stops offering His forgiveness. The person has rejected one last time. Their heart has become so hardened they will not hear at all.

NOTE THE GRACE OF GOD ON FULL DISPLAY

King Ahaz had already been known for his idolatrous practices including sacrificing his son on the altar of BAAL. God had allowed the torment of the King of Israel and the King of Syria as punishment. Still He promised that would not be the end of the story for His people. Here God reaches out in grace to King Ahaz to offer him a way of salvation for himself. He even had sent Isaiah’s son Shear-Jashub. His name means “a remnant will return”. God even offered to give him a sign. ANYTHING he would ask. This to demonstrate His willingness to forgive and save King Ahaz. But alas like so many even today, the king preferred to sound pious without any demonstration of faith. This was worse even than flat out denial.

Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Isaiah 7:10-13 NKJV

God Promises A Future Redemption: God’s Word Never Fails

Now God promises with this one beautiful verse that the Messiah will come. Though at this point King Ahaz will not even understand with His Heart of Stone. And it was not in King Ahaz’s day. Yet, He did come just as foretold. That was there to give the people heart and courage. And it is there for us. We are awaiting His Return for us. Each day we can live with hope, knowing God’s Word Never Fails.

Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. Isaiah 7:14-16 NKJV

Now bear with me here. This is a perfect example how the prophecies of Isaiah are like God outside of space and time. Certainly the fulfillment of this sign was not during the days of King Ahaz. But with certainty God’s Word Never Fails. Many stumble at this chapter and I have read the three main differing interpretations only to conclude two major thoughts. Scripture interprets scripture and God is outside space and time. First, the actual scripture here does use “the” before virgin. Not any virgin, “the virgin”. It can only refer to Christ’s birth. Then in Matthew we read,

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV

This places Jesus as the one and the same. He is the only True Immanuel-”God with us.” There can be no other conflicting interpretation than this. “Oh, King Ahaz, the true King will one day come. Therefore, the nation will be preserved now and forever”

God’s Word Never Fails-All happened as foretold.

In addition to fulfilling the distant prophesy as written. God did send a second sign that the situation would be taken care of as well. Isaiah did have a second son. He was named Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz meaning “Speed-spoil-hasten-plunder”. Before he reached the age of 2, Syria fell to Assyria, just as God had said. Pekah was assassinated by Hoshea, the final King of Israel. Israel fell to Assyria exactly 65 years later. See attached below at the last of today’s writing for the exact historical timeline for this:

But the problem also was that since King Ahaz failed to obey God, the downfall of Judah began. Only a remnant would remain. King Ahaz chose to seek the help of the Assyrian King instead of God. Then King Ahaz brought back a replica of an altar from Damascus. He destroyed the temple, placed the new altar and continued in idol worship. He set up Judah as a vassal state to Assyria and gave them the gold and treasures from the temple. They were forced to pay tributes to Assyria.

King Ahaz was not buried with the kings of Judah because of all the evil he did. Due to all, King Ahaz was not established even in his burial because of his unbelief. Again, God’s Word Never fails.

What Else Happened

The Lord will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father’s house—days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah.”

And it shall come to pass in that day

That the Lord will whistle for the fly

That is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt,

And for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

They will come, and all of them will rest

In the desolate valleys and in the clefts of the rocks,

And on all thorns and in all pastures.

In the same day the Lord will shave with a hired razor,

With those from beyond the River, with the king of Assyria,

The head and the hair of the legs,

And will also remove the beard.

It shall be in that day

That a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep;

So it shall be, from the abundance of milk they give,

That he will eat curds;

For curds and honey everyone will eat who is left in the land.

It shall happen in that day,

That wherever there could be a thousand vines

Worth a thousand shekels of silver,

It will be for briers and thorns.

With arrows and bows men will come there,

Because all the land will become briers and thorns.

And to any hill which could be dug with the hoe,

You will not go there for fear of briers and thorns;

But it will become a range for oxen

And a place for sheep to roam. Isaiah 7: 17-25 NKJV

The desolation prophesied in this section began in the days of Ahaz and reached its climax when the Babylonians conquered Judah. Its results continue to the time when the Messiah will return to deliver Israel and establish His kingdom on earth.¹McArthur, John, McArthur Study Bible, Copyright © 1997, 2006, 2019 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. Page1346

More Proof God’s Word Never Fails

Canonical Context

Isaiah addresses King Ahaz of Judah during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis (ca. 734 BC). Syria (Aram) and the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim/Israel) pressure Judah to join their anti-Assyrian coalition. God sends Isaiah to calm Ahaz: the coalition will fail, and Ephraim itself will soon cease to exist as a distinct nation.

Historical Background

• 734–732 BC – Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria invades, annexes Galilee, Naphtali, and Gilead (2 Kings 15:29).

• 732 BC – First mass deportation of Northern Israelites.

• 724–722 BC – Shalmaneser V begins siege of Samaria; Sargon II completes it. Samaria falls; another wave of deportations follows (2 Kings 17:6).

• 671–669 BC – Esarhaddon’s Prism records that he “re-populated Samaria” with foreign settlers. This third phase eradicates Ephraim’s ethnic cohesiveness; intermarriage produces the Samaritans (2 Kings 17:24).

Counted from the initial prophecy (734 BC) to Esarhaddon’s final resettlement (669 BC) equals sixty-five years.

Chronological Calculation of the Sixty-Five Years

Prophecy uttered: 734 BC.

Terminal event: 669 BC (Esarhaddon’s final deportation).

734 – 669 = 65.

Even under Ussher’s conservative dating (prophecy 742 BC; Esarhaddon 677 BC), the span remains 65. Scripture therefore synchronizes with both conventional and conservative chronologies.

Fulfillment in Three Deportations

1. Tiglath-pileser III (732 BC): removes northern districts; Ephraim loses territory and leadership (1 Chron 5:26).

2. Shalmaneser V/Sargon II (722 BC): kingdom abolished; royal line ended (2 Kings 17).

3. Esarhaddon (671-669 BC): demographic dissolution; remaining Israelites absorbed by imported Gentiles (Ezra 4:2). God’s prophecy targets not merely political defeat but ethnic extinction—fulfilled by stage three.

Archaeological Corroboration

• Nimrud Slab of Tiglath-pileser III lists 13,520 Israelites deported from Galilee.

• Sargon II’s Annals: “I besieged and captured Samaria, deporting 27,290 inhabitants.”

• Esarhaddon Prism B: “I resettled the people of Samaria with those I had conquered.”

All three inscriptions align with the prophetic roadmap.

Theological Significance

Yahweh’s sovereignty: nations rise and fall on His word (Isaiah 40:15). The 65-year detail is a time-stamped pledge, proving God’s omniscience and faithfulness.

Covenant justice: Deuteronomy 28 warned apostasy would bring exile; Isaiah applies that clause.

Pastoral comfort: Ahaz is told to trust God rather than foreign alliances; the prophecy undercuts fear

Christological Connection to the Immanuel Prophecy

The same dialogue (Isaiah 7:14) promises “the virgin will conceive.” God undergirds the long-range Messianic sign with a near-term political sign (Ephraim’s demise). Fulfillment of the 65-year oracle authenticates the larger promise culminating in Jesus’ resurrection, establishing the consistency of God’s redemptive plan.

Practical and Devotional Application

Believers can trust God’s promises despite intimidating circumstances. Unbelievers are invited to consider the track record of fulfilled prophecy as evidence for the Gospel’s credibility. National or personal rebellion carries consequences, but repentance secures grace.

Summary

Isaiah’s 65-year deadline marks the interval between the initial Assyrian assault (734 BC) and Esarhaddon’s decisive resettlement (669 BC). All textual, historical, and archaeological data confirm that Ephraim vanished as a people within that window, validating Isaiah 7:8 and showcasing the reliability of God’s word.²https://biblehub.com/q/Why_65_years_for_Ephraim_s_fall.htm accessed 8/29/26

Concluding Thoughts

We can rest assured that God’s Word Never Fails and His Promises Absolutely will come true. No Worries, No fears, That is if you know Him as your Lord and Savior. So that is the most important question today.

Song of the day

YOUR PROMISES ARE ALWAYS TRUE

by Effie Darlene Barba

This journey filled with sometimes pain

The storms, with dark incessant rain

A fleeting moment of sunshine

Reminds me of Your Truth Divine

That You, dear Lord, are by my side

And that in You, I can abide

Chorus:

My safety is not based on me

My life was bought on Calvary

It was there you reached your hand of Grace

And there my sins You did erase

The truth of You, who drew me near

Is why this life I do not fear

So, oft; dear Lord I cannot see

The truth of how Your guiding me

When evil lurks, to bring me down

Attempting in its darkness drown

The fact that You have won this war

That Safely I will reach the shore

Chorus

My safety is not based on me

My life was bought on Calvary

It was there you reached your hand of Grace

And there my sins You did erase

The truth of You, who drew me near

Is why this life I do not fear

Bridge:

Your Promises are Always True

You Will Complete All You Have Planned

No fear, no guilt, Whate’er the view

Upon Your Faithfulness I Stand

Your promises are always true

That every path you lead me through

Will bring me joy, a hope above

That draws me closer to your love

So, when I do not understand

I’ll trust Your word that guides Your hand

Chorus:

My safety is not based on me

My life was bought on Calvary

It was there you reached your hand of Grace

And there my sins You did erase

The truth of You, who drew me near

Is why this life I do not fear

³Barba, Effie Darlene, Soaring Above the Storms, Vol I, page 106 with addition of Chorus and bridge by Effie Darlene Barba 2026

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

God’s Glory Revealed. What You See Next Will Surprise You

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2026

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Common English Bible (CEB)

Picture Taken: Effie Darlene Barba

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God’s Glory Revealed. What You See Next Will Surprise You

August 23, 2026 Effie Barba Leave a comment

As we come to Isaiah 6, there is a moment in which Isaiah is given a vision of God’s Glory as it is Revealed to Him. This occurs at a time when Israel is suddenly in disarray after a period of great prosperity. There had been two Kings who were considered good Kings at least beginning they were. Now King Amaziah had begun well, but later brought in idol worship. He was killed and his son Uzziah took over the throne. At first King Uzziah followed God; however, he later failed.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Amaziah had done. He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him successful. 2 Chronicles 25:3-5 NASB

During that time, Israel became very prosperous. They increased land, strength and money. Then,

When the Magnificence of God’s Glory is Forgotten, Destruction

But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was untrue to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. Then Azariah the priest entered after him, and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been untrue and will have no honor from the Lord God.” But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense. Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they quickly removed him from there, and he himself also hurried to get out because the Lord had stricken him. King Uzziah had leprosy to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, afflicted as he was with leprosy, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. And his son Jotham was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land. 2 Chronicles 25: 16-21 NASB.

So often when things are going well, we become complacent about God’s Glory and that is when pride enters our hearts. The more highly we think of ourselves or the false belief that we have accomplished anything good of our own volition positions us to fail. That is precisely what happened to Uzziah. But with him, the whole nation of Judah followed suit. Everything was good, so they forgot about the majesty of God’s Glory and His exalted position in our relationship with Him. When the highly exalted position of God is forgotten, we fail. Sometimes, in our modern world, we so want to make God be on our level. Our friend, our gift giver, and the one who does what we want. When we do that, forgetting His Sovereignty and Glory, we start down the slippery slope.

Yes, He is our friend, but a Powerful, Mighty friend who knows what is best for us. Not our “do whatever we want, buddy, pal” who lets us use and abuse the relationship. He is not the one we want to stay quiet in the corner. Nor do we really want Him agreeing with everything we do. Nor cheering us on no matter what. Instead, He is the one we can trust as the friend who tells us the truth. Out of love, we know He provides us with what we need. Not always what we want.

God’s Glory Revealed and the Order Restored for Isaiah and the Remnant

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him, each having six wings: with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet, and with two each flew. And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies.

The whole earth is full of His glory.” ISAIAH 6:1-3

We can only imagine the scene if we intensely consider the words of Isaiah. Was Isaiah inside the temple when suddenly he saw this vision? Or like John or Ezekiel was he transported to see? We are not told, but he saw the vision of Jesus upon the throne in heaven in all His Glory. The Seraphim, mighty powerful angels always ready to do His bidding—hid their faces and their feet. Why? Humble servitude. They recognized they position before God. They would not act without His command to do so. Declaring “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies. They would not go forth to battle the evil, until He says go. He is the Lord of Armies, God’s army of angels. The whole earth is full of His Glory.”

On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:1-3 BSB

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NASB

So how did this restore order? It restored the order of God’s Sovereignty, Justice, Power, and Love. We cannot see God for who He is without noting that His attributes are all equally Glorious. His Justice equal with His love, His Sovereignty equal with His Mercy, and so on with all His attributes. There is not one without the others. He is mighty and powerfully above us and above our comprehension.

Why do they cry, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy”?

Well, there are two reasons for this. One is referencing the trinity. But also, they are before time and space Holy, they are Holy in the Heavenly realm over all the created angelic force, and Holy in their creation of the world. The world was created in perfect Holiness. Justice is perfectly executed by a Holy Creator of the Universe. He has every right to destroy it all, but does not because His equally Holy attribute of love steadies His Hand. It was His choice to choose a means of salvation, paying the price for it Himself. Thus demonstrating His Attribute of Mercy and love.

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,

“Woe to me, for I am ruined!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I live among a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies.” Isaiah 6:4-5 NASB

Remember whenever God descended over Mount Sinai? Or inhabited the temple? There was always smoke and fire. When Isaiah saw the Glorious Presence of the Lord on the throne, he recognized the utter insignificance of humanity in comparison to His Majesty. Yet, He chose to love us so much as to purchase our salvation at such a high cost. How is it that we cry out demands of Him? Yet, how often do we just that. And even more so, how often does humanity cry out demands of Him. Or deny Him.

Salvation is of the Lord

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin.” Isaiah 6:6-7 NASB

Now only Saved, but Commissioned by God, for God, and to Speak of God’s Glory

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NASB

Having seen the Glory of the Lord and being saved from his own sin, how could Isaiah not say yes? For those of us who have been given a glimpse of His Glory through salvation, how can we not say yes to His commission? For to know Him as Savior, there are those moments in which His Glory swells deeply within our hearts. A moment of joy so great that we can hardly contain it. We have been given so much, how can we not rush to tell others? Is that not the most important thing we can do?

And what was this Message of God’s Glory?

It was a message to declare even if no one listened. Do you ever feel defeated when people do not listen to you? I do. But that is the mission we are commissioned to. The results are not up to us. They depend on Him and Him alone. Our job is to keep going and not grow weary in well doing. The harvest is His alone. So, many refuse to hear and harden their hearts to Him. They choose to refuse Him. Yet, what a hard message. Isaiah was told they would not respond. That is, only a remnant of hearers would listen and respond. This was the same message Jeremiah was given as well. He would suffer, be cast aside, and his message ignored. But keep preaching the word of the Lord anyway.

And He said, “Go, and tell this people:

‘Keep on listening, but do not understand;

And keep on looking, but do not gain knowledge.’

Make the hearts of this people insensitive,

Their ears dull,

And their eyes blind,

So that they will not see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

Understand with their hearts,

And return and be healed.” Isaiah 6: 8-10 NASB

Have you ever noticed, the more the gospel spreads, the larger the number of people who become desensitized to hearing it? More false doctrines continue to arise that confounds the issue. The more they deny it, the farther they walk away from God’s Glory. And so the world spirals into its own humanistic failures, declaring themselves true when all is just a lie.

Furthermore, Imagine, this Same Jesus Entered Jerusalem Riding on a Donkey

Jump forward to John chapter 12 and realize this same Jesus had entered Jerusalem, humbly entering on a colt of a donkey. Not on a white horse or magnificent throne. The people want Him their way. Little did they care about their own sins being forgiven. They wanted Him to just fix my situation here and now. So fixated on their own desires they closed their ears to the truth.

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what am I to say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him!” Jesus responded and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die. The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how is it that You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus proclaimed, and He went away and hid Himself from them. John 12:27-36 NASB

Not Only In Isaiah’s Day, but Again in Jerusalem—They Forgot God’s Glory

They did not recognize God’s Glory, even though it had been revealed in Jesus Christ walking among them. His miracles, His words, nothing mattered to them but what they wanted Him to do then and there. They did not recognize His Glory, though He had demonstrated it so often. They wanted bread today, not the true bread of life. “Give me what I want, never realizing He came to give them what they needed–salvation from their sin.” He came to provide eternal life with Him. They wanted a better life now.

But though He had performed so many signs in their sight, they still were not believing in Him. This happened so that the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke would be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they will not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and be converted, and so I will not heal them.” These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke about Him. Nevertheless many, even of the rulers, believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, so that they would not be excommunicated from the synagogue; for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God. John 12:37-43 NASB

He blinded their eyes, because they had selfish, self-exalting hearts that believed themselves worthy of receiving everything. They did not see the wickedness of their own hearts. Believing themselves entitled, they demanded He take His throne or be crucified.

Furthermore, John again saw God’s Glory Revealed in Revelation

At first, He saw a throne surrounded by lightning and a rainbow. He seated on the throne looking like precious stones. Surrounding Him were the same creatures with the appearance described of the Seraphim. This time all three persons of the Trinity are present. The Father seated on the throne. Jesus Standing and the Holy Spirit as seven lamps of fire before the throne in Revelation Chapter 4 verse 5. Also chapter 5 verse 6 speaking of the lamb slaughtered as, “having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” The Holy Spirit is described in multiple parts of Scripture as possessing seven attributes.

Then John later saw this:

He saw God the Father on His throne. Jesus, the Lion like Lamb then took the scroll (the deed to the earth) from the Father’s Hand as The Father handed it to Him. Then Jesus opened the seals, one seal at a time until finally John saw,

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19: 11-16 NASB

Back to Isaiah, Perhaps His Question is the Same as ours

Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered,

“Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant,

Houses are without people

And the land is utterly desolate,

The Lord has completely removed people,

And there [g]are many forsaken places in the midst of the land.

Yet there will still be a tenth portion in it,

And it will again be subject to burning,

Like a terebinth or an oak

Whose stump remains when it is cut down.

The holy seed is its stump.” Isaiah 6:11-13 NASB

Now the question is: “What will you do after seeing God’s Glory with the eyes of your heart?”

But For God, The Sorrows that Abound*

By Effie Darlene Barba

I see the sorrows that abound

The depths of pain that do surround

Anger, hate the awful sound

Dear Lord, where are you now?

I need to feel you close somehow

To know this pain, you did allow

Help my eyes to just see You

I need someway to have your view

To see the victory that was won

Upon that cross by your dear Son

For there upon a hill so high

A cross that reached into the sky

Your Son did bleed, and He did die

To save a sinner such as I

Oh, Father dear did you cry?

Were there tears that filled your eye?

As you gazed from up above

Steadied your hand, because of love

You saw beyond the wretched pain

And focused then upon the gain

For human hearts so filled with pride

Desire to rule and cast aside

Their only hope, their one true guide

As evil grows within each heart

They grasp it tight, to ne’er depart

While shouting theirs a brand-new start

That only they can show the way

To bring mankind a better day

So blind they are to never see

Their nothingness can never be

More than the darkness deep within

So, torn and tossed by their own sin

What fools to think they’d ever win

More than the darkness of this life

So filled with pain and self-made strife

That stabs one’s soul with molten knife

Yet still they feel that they are right

That they are all by their own might

And filled with self, reject the thought

Their life is nothing, unless bought

For justice does demand a price

And nothing else could e’er suffice

Except for Christ’s dear sacrifice

And yet they run their hell-bent way

Believing all their tongues do say

It is the truth, their words do slay

This world continues spiraling down

Within their words, they too shall drown

Amid the pain, the bitter strife

That without God makes up this life

Unless they humbly bow their head

Believing all that You have said

Allowing You to reign instead

Unless by faith they do accept

Their feeble hearts are so inept

Until for sin they too have wept

They cannot ever win life’s race

Or gaze upon Your Glorious face

Eternally, to know Your Grace

Whose love by faith our sins erase

Yahweh, Lord the Great I AM

The One True God of Abraham

Jesus Christ, Your Righteous Lamb

How great the pain you must have known!

As Darkness fell—not one light shone

Your wrath for sin poured from your throne

On Your Beloved and sinless son

To Justify each heart You’ve won

For never could you compromise

Your Righteousness or otherwise

If you forgave and no one paid

Your justice would have been enslaved

And righteousness would only fade

So, looking far beyond Your pain

You focused then upon the gain

Tomorrow’s harvest full of grain

Each one You knew would call Your name

You loved so much, you did proclaim

I’ll pay their price for all their sin

While justice, righteousness doth win

I see the sorrows that abound

The depths of pain that do surround

Anger, hate the awful sound

And yet, Dear Lord, I know your near

Safe in your arms, I have no fear

There may be pains sometimes down here

Life may have its ups and downs

The angry mobs with hate filled frowns

My love and joy look past the pain

Because You Are My All, My Gain

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

If God Never Judged His People Would That Be Love?

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2026

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Common English Bible (CEB)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

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If God Never Judged His People Would That Be Love?

August 15, 2026 Effie Barba Leave a comment

As we approach chapters 3, 4, and 5 of Isaiah, we realize God continues to lay out His case against His people. His patience, endurance, and kindness. He had even sent them prosperity, but alas, no gratitude, no true worship, and no obedience of the heart. Instead, everything was about idols, self-aggrandizement, and the belief that He would never go against them. After all, they were “the chosen” people. He would always help them. All the “others” would suffer his judgement, but not them. But if God never judged His people would that be love? Not really! If He never judged them, they would continue in bad choices and self-destruction. There is no peace or joy apart from Him. That is the truth of reality that they still did not understand. So caught up in their own pride, they are filled with prideful thoughts and selfish desires. Sound familiar today?

Around the world and in the USA, the same humanistic philosophy drives humanity. It is nearly impossible to imagine and consider the depth of patience God has demonstrated and still demonstrates. How much He blesses us all despite our awful behavior. Yet, just as in the time of Isaiah, God will come to the moment in which judgement will reign down. True love demands it. As we rush headlong into self-destruction chasing after vain desires, whimsical fantasies, pride, material wealth, and sexual pleasures of all kinds. The problem is those vanities become even themselves a never-ending cycle of displeasure. Always searching for the next “high” and never being satisfied.

That was true then and today.

That was the case for Judah then and we today. Spiraling always further into destitution of the soul. Heading straight into hell (the absence of God’s presence). Therefore, true love demands rescue. That rescue can only come through judgement. A judgement to reset the downward spiral of humanity. So, this message is relevant to us today. We will be judged. It is absolutely necessary to save a remnant. But are we ready to face all of what is coming? That depends. Do you know Jesus as Lord and Savior? If so, are you ready to face whatever comes next without compromising your faith? It may get tough, but we know He has won the victory. On that we can rest assured.

If God Never Judged His People

How quickly had they turned against Him when prosperity came. After all, they just assume they deserved all the riches they were given. What about us? How often do we think He owes us more than what we have. Truth be known, we deserve a lot less. That is why trials are a part of our lives every day. A reminder of all that we do have by Grace. If I never had a bad moment, I might think highly of me, instead of bowing to Him.

And so, we begin with God telling them, they will be judged for their insolence.

Isaiah 3:

1For behold, the Lord God of armies is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah

Both supply and support, the entire supply of bread

And the entire supply of water;

2

The mighty man and the warrior,

The judge and the prophet,

The diviner and the elder,

3

The captain of fifty and the esteemed person,

The counselor and the expert artisan,

And the skillful enchanter.

4

And I will make mere boys their leaders,

And mischievous children will rule over them,

5

And the people will be oppressed,

Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor;

The youth will assault the elder,

And the contemptible person will assault the one honored.

6

When a man lays hold of his brother in his father’s house, saying,

“You have a cloak, you shall be our ruler!

And these ruins will be under your authority,”

7

He will protest on that day, saying,

“I will not be your healer,

For in my house there is neither bread nor cloak;

You should not appoint me ruler of the people.”

8

For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,

Because their speech and their actions are against the Lord,

To rebel against His glorious presence.

9

The expression of their faces testifies against them,

And they display their sin like Sodom;

They do not even conceal it.

Woe to them!

For they have done evil to themselves.

10

Say to the righteous that it will go well for them,

For they will eat the fruit of their actions.

11

Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him,

For what he deserves will be done to him.

12

My people! Their oppressors treat them violently,

And women rule over them.

My people! Those who guide you lead you astray

And confuse the direction of your paths.

Still, he referred to them as my people, although all they had done was rebel against Him.

The Elders and the Leaders will be judged.

God begins His decree of judgement by condemning the elders and leaders for both leading the people astray and taking wealth from the people. The elders and leaders were oppressing the people.

13

The Lord arises to contend,

And stands to judge the people.

14

The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and leaders of His people,

“It is you who have devoured the vineyard;

The goods stolen from the poor are in your houses.

15

What do you mean by crushing My people

And oppressing the face of the poor?”

Declares the Lord God of armies. Isaiah 3 (NASB)

Next To Be Judged Are the Women of Israel.

Just as Jezebel before them, the women became overwhelmed with their own beauty and seductive powers. Most likely part of their worship and admiration of Ashtarof as they used beauty, seduction, and sexuality to gain power over the men. Even ankle bracelets to make certain they were noticed.

ISAIAH 3:16 (NASB)

Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty

And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes,

And go along with mincing steps

And jingle the anklets on their feet,

17

The Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs,

And the Lord will make their foreheads bare.”

18 On that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, 19 dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, 20 headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, 21 finger rings, nose rings, 22 festive robes, outer garments, shawls, purses, 23 papyrus garments, undergarments, headbands, and veils.

24

Now it will come about that instead of balsam oil there will be a stench;

Instead of a belt, a rope;

Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp;

Instead of fine clothes, a robe of sackcloth;

And branding instead of beauty.

25

Your men will fall by the sword

And your mighty ones in battle.

26

And her gates will lament and mourn,

And she will sit deserted on the ground.

4:1

For seven women will take hold of one man on that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our disgrace!”

Instead of power and prestige, the women will now be in disgrace. After being judged, they now will even provide solely for themselves, instead of being protected by their spouse. They will beg to be given a name. Any name to show themselves as belonging to someone and something.

Yet, God Demonstrates His Love and Grace, Even in Judgement.

Here is a pause to tell them of the future, still yet to come. The day when the Messiah brings peace. An Olive Branch of Everlasting Hope. That branch is Jesus. Salvation for Israel as a nation will come at the time of Christ’s return. Salvation is present for all who accept Him now. But there will be a day when Israel bows before her King.

2 On that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the beauty of the survivors of Israel. 3 And it will come about that the one who is left in Zion and remains behind in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, 5 then the Lord will create over the entire area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 And there will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain. Isaiah 4:2-6 (NASB)

This can only happen once the filth has been removed. The tribulation is for the final cleansing of the Jewish nation as well as the punishment of all the evil forces that have led her and we astray. Part of why the church is removed by the rapture before it begins is that this specifically is God cleansing His nation Israel. This was God’s plan all along to save a remnant of His chosen people as an ultimate act of Grace.

24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. Daniel 9 (NASB).

Even In Song, God Tells Them They Will Be Judged for Their Actions Against Him

In a love song, He compared His people to a vineyard that was well cared for. He did everything for them: yet, they produced only sour fruit. Though given everything, they were rebellious.

1 Let me sing now for my beloved

A song of my beloved about His vineyard.

My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill.

2

He dug it all around, cleared it of stones,

And planted it with the choicest vine.

And He built a tower in the middle of it,

And also carved out a wine vat in it;

Then He expected it to produce good grapes,

But it produced only worthless ones.

3

“And now, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,

Judge between Me and My vineyard.

4

What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it?

Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?

Isaiah 5:1-4 (NASB)

What more could He have done? He asks us to judge between Him and His people. Giving them everything, they spit on Him in their actions and speech. Sound familiar? As a result, love demanded they be judged to save a remnant before evil destroyed all. Heading toward a day like Noah or Sodom and Gomorrah.

First Step of Being Judged: Walls Removed

5

So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard:

I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed;

I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground.

6

I will lay it waste;

It will not be pruned nor hoed,

But briars and thorns will come up.

I will also command the clouds not to rain on it.”

7

For the vineyard of the Lord of armies is the house of Israel,

And the people of Judah are His delightful plant.

So He waited for justice, but behold, there was bloodshed;

For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help. Isaiah 5 (NASB)

Notice that in His judgement, it begins by breaking down the walls that surround them. Evil easily invades. The same has happened in the USA. Not just the walls of immigration. Rather the walls that protected us from the world. The walls of the family has been broken down. The walls protecting the Christian faith are being broken down. In the name of religious freedom, only the Christians and Jews are cast aside. No one else. In fact we are embracing all the faiths that are not the Truth of God. Even within the “christian churches and their pulpits” we see the evil invading to take over the truth. The walls between morality and immorality are falling as well. Socialism and Communism are growing in strength to destroy freedom. Therefore, God’s love demands that we be judged.

How Many of These Following Steps of Judgement Have You Noticed Happening Now?

Woe to those who attach house to house and join field to field,

Until there is no more room,

And you alone are a landowner in the midst of the land!

9

In my ears the Lord of armies has sworn, “Many houses shall certainly become desolate,

Even great and fine ones, without occupants. Isaiah 5 (NASB)

Are these not the descriptions of what happens with Communism?

10

For ten acres of vineyard will yield only one bath of wine,

And a homer of seed will yield only an ephah of grain.”

11

Woe to those who rise early in the morning so that they may pursue intoxicating drink,

Who stay up late in the evening so that wine may inflame them!

12

Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine;

But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord,

Nor do they consider the work of His hands. Isaiah 5 (NASB)

Again scarity of supplies with everything being only in the hands of the few occurs in Socialistic and Communistic areas of the world.

13

Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge;

And their nobles are famished,

And their multitude is parched with thirst.

14

Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth beyond measure;

And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her noise of revelry, and the jubilant within her, descend into it. Isaiah 5 (NASB)

They lacked knowledge because God did not tell them or because they refused to hear? They refused to listen. And they desired to believe a lie instead. After all, they wanted to fulfill the lusts of their own flesh. They wanted to be the rulers of their own destiny. Any resemblance to the current world? Certainly, lies declared truth everyday and truth declared as false. Seeking to each be ruler of their own life, they plunge themselves into destruction.

15

So the common people will be humbled and the person of importance brought low,

The eyes of the haughty also will be brought low.

16

But the Lord of armies will be exalted in judgment,

And the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.

17

Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture,

And strangers will eat in the ruins of the wealthy.

18

Woe to those who drag wrongdoing with the cords of deceit,

And sin as if with cart ropes; Isaiah 5 (NASB)

God promises redemption, but they like we, scream when? Hurry, please. Yet, He is patient. His timing is perfect.

19

Who say, “Let Him hurry, let Him do His work quickly, so that we may see it;

And let the plan of the Holy One of Israel approach

And come to pass, so that we may know it!” Isaiah 5 (NASB)

Out of His Love, He has been patient.

But all the earth will be judged also because of His Love. Only those who have accepted His plan of salvation will be saved. So, what is that? What is His plan of salvation? He paid the price of our redemption. So if we humbly, with a heart of repentance come to Him, we will be saved from His wrath? How? Jesus paid the price for us. He took the wrath on Himself. Therefore for all who believe that He is God’s Son who died and was resurrected again into newness of life can ask Him into their hearts. So that through faith we are saved. Otherwise:

20

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;

Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

21

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes

And clever in their own sight!

22

Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine,

And valiant men in mixing intoxicating drink,

23

Who declare the wicked innocent for a bribe,

And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

24

Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble,

And dry grass collapses in the flame,

So their root will become like rot, and their blossom blow away like dust;

For they have rejected the Law of the Lord of armies,

And discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 5: (NASB)

And Now We Return to Hear How God Determined to Judge Them by Nebuchanezzar

25

For this reason the anger of the Lord has burned against His people,

And He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them.

And the mountains quaked, and their corpses lay like refuse in the middle of the streets.

Despite all this, His anger is not spent,

But His hand is still stretched out.

26

He will also lift up a flag to the distant nation,

And whistle for it from the ends of the earth;

And behold, it will come with speed swiftly.

27

No one in it is tired or stumbles,

No one slumbers or sleeps;

Nor is the undergarment at his waist loosened,

Nor his sandal strap broken.

28

Its arrows are sharp and all its bows are bent;

The hoofs of its horses seem like flint, and its chariot wheels like a storm wind.

29

Its roaring is like a lioness, and it roars like young lions;

It growls as it seizes the prey

And carries it off with no one to save it.

30

And it will roar against it on that day like the roaring of the sea.

If one looks across to the land, behold, there is darkness and distress;

Even the light is darkened by its clouds. Isaiah 5 (NASB)

Once more, Isaiah has taken us outside of time and space. Wrapped in all this was a message for his day and for us today. But the question then arises. Will we heed the warning better than they did then? Whomever reads this and does not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Let today be the day to receive Him. His word is true and He will accomplish all He has planned.

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To the Millenium and Back, Isaiah Reveals the Truth of God Almighty

How Does Isaiah Still Speak to Our World Today with Such Power?

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Common English Bible (CEB)

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To the Millenium and Back, Isaiah Reveals the Truth of God Almighty

August 8, 2026 Effie Barba Leave a comment

As mentioned last week, Isaiah takes us outside of time and space throughout his book. Remember that it was God’s Spirit that gave him these visions. How exciting that Isaiah wrote it down exactly with full faith, displaying the absolute Glory of God. He tells us of His Justice and His Grace. How powerful and magnificent God is: Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Sovereign. What He reveals, He will accomplish. No doubts and no fears. We saw God presenting His case against His people for their sin. Yet, He offered them salvation, if they would only repent and believe. Then, He proceeds to tell them about the Millenium and returns to the present time, seeing both at the same time. Thereby, the book of Isaiah reveals the Truth of God Almighty in the Glorious Completeness of all His attributes. How amazing is that?

Chapters 2-5 continue God’s reasoning with His people to understand the truth of their sin, His Just Nature, His wrath against sin, and His Gracious Nature of Love. This is the continued inditement against the nation of Israel, but serves as an inditement against every one of us. Our only hope is that we are His redeemed if we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

To the Millenium

The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

Now it will come about that

In the last days

The mountain of the house of the Lord

Will be established as the chief of the mountains,

And will be raised above the hills;

And all the nations will stream to it.

And many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord,

To the house of the God of Jacob;

So that He may teach us about His ways,

And that we may walk in His paths.”

For the law will go out from Zion

And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

And He will judge between the nations,

And will mediate for many peoples;

And they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives.

Nation will not lift up a sword against nation,

And never again will they learn war. Isaiah 2:1-4 NASB

The perfect leap forward into the Millenial Reign of Jesus Christ. “For the law will go out from Zion And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” There will come a day, when the Truth of God Almighty will once more be magnified.

And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 NASB

Or read this:

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years Revelation 20:4

These were the martyrs from the tribulation that were brought back to life. Remember that this is minimally 7 years after the rapture. Although the dead in Christ will rise from the grave during the rapture, this is not called the “resurrection of the dead.” This, the resurrection of the matyrs, is referred to the “first resurrection” as the “second resurrection” post rapture is when all who denied Christ will also be raised to face judgement.

Then we Turn to a Blended Speech of Now and Later

Come, house of Jacob, and let’s walk in the light of the Lord

For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob,

Because they are filled with influences from the east,

And they are soothsayers like the Philistines.

They also strike bargains with the children of foreigners.

Their land has also been filled with silver and gold

And there is no end to their treasures;

Their land has also been filled with horses,

And there is no end to their chariots.

Their land has also been filled with idols;

They worship the work of their hands,

That which their fingers have made.

So the common person has been humbled

And the person of importance has been brought low,

But do not forgive them.

Enter the rocky place and hide in the dust

From the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty.

The proud look of humanity will be brought low,

And the arrogance of people will be humbled;

And the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. Isaiah 2: 5-11

The Truth of God Almighty again displayed. He renounces them for taking the idol worship of the surrounding countries. They were instead to have been the light to display Him to the world. They chose to be the ones transformed by evil influencers. Much like we see throughout the world today. But God will rightly judge. Justice will be known “on that day.” What day? Well in lesser points on the days of judgement that Israel would face in their nearer future. But to a greater extent to that day when Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation.

Truth of God Almighty Magnified

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19: 11-16 NASB

Remember that God sees the end and the beginning all at the same time. He is outside of time and space. Therefore, tomorrow is as clear as today is.

“Remember this, and be assured;

Recall it to mind, you wrongdoers.

Remember the former things long past,

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,

And from ancient times things which have not been done,

Saying, ‘My plan will be established,

And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Isaiah 40:8-10 NASB

How better to display this Attribute of Truth of God Almighty than to write in this manner. Furthermore, Isaiah is telling them. All looks horrible. God must judge as He is a just God, but His mercy is so amazing. Look at His patience with the nation of Israel over all those years. It is His Loving Grace on full display. Look at His patience with us today.

Leap Forward Again to the Second Coming of Jesus

The Lord of God’s Army is Jesus Christ. Think of that as you read the next verses.

For the Lord of armies will have a day of reckoning

Against everyone who is arrogant and haughty,

And against everyone who is lifted up,

That he may be brought low.

And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up,

Against all the oaks of Bashan,

Against all the lofty mountains,

Against all the hills that are lifted up,

Against every high tower,

Against every fortified wall,

Against all the ships of Tarshish

And against all the delightful ships.

And the pride of humanity will be humbled

And the arrogance of people will be brought low;

And the Lord alone will be exalted on that day,

Isaiah 2:12-17 NASB

He will establish His kingdom. On that day of wrath. Occurring when the tribulation is called to an end via the great battle of Armageddon. The ending battle. There was where other familiar battles there. Read this explantion from GotQuestions

The plain of Megiddo, or Armageddon, was famous for two great victories in Israel’s history: 1) Barak’s victory over the Canaanites (Judges 4:15) and 2) Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judges 7). Armageddon was also the site of two great tragedies: 1) the death of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31:8) and 2) the death of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:29–30; 2 Chronicles 35:22).

According to the futurist interpretation of Revelation, which is our view, the Battle of Armageddon will be a real battle in the future, near the end of the tribulation. Demonic influences will cause the kings of the earth to gather their armies for an all-out assault on Jerusalem. The Antichrist will be leading the charge (Revelation 16:13–16). Jesus Christ will return to earth with the armies of heaven (Matthew 25:31; Revelation 19:14); His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4); He will defeat the forces of evil (Revelation 19:15–16); He will cast the Antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20); He will bind Satan; and He will set up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6). At Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty” (Revelation 19:15), and all things will be made right. _{¹ https://www.gotquestions.org/battle-Armageddon.html accessed 8/8/202}6

Some will run to hide on that day

And the idols will completely vanish.

People will go into caves of the rocks

And into holes in the ground

Away from the terror of the Lord

And the splendor of His majesty,

When He arises to terrify the earth.

On that day people will throw away to the moles and the bats

Their idols of silver and their idols of gold,

Which they made for themselves to worship,

In order to go into the clefts of the rocks and the crannies of the cliffs

Before the terror of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty,

When He arises to terrify the earth.

Take no account of man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;

For why should he be esteemed? Isaiah 2:18-22 NASB

The remnant must go into hiding is the last 3.5 years of the tribulation. Jesus said of those days:

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Matthew 24: 15-22 NASB

But why would a loving God say, “Take no account of man whose breath of life is in his nostrils.” They have chosen to not bow before God! He is Just and must deny those who deny Him. He has provided such patience and endurance waiting and revealing Himself. But He knows that evil continues to bring evil and it grows.

It is like when He would call for an entire nation, men, women, children, and beasts all be killed. Those were nations so deep in idolatrous worship. Including child murder, pedophilia, beastiality, and all forms of sexual perversion. Nearly all were infected with venereal diseases. If left, they would infect God’s people.

That is why God was so mad that King Saul. Remember when Saul disobeyed God’s command. He saved the “animals” and brought the King back to the palace in chains. Then even said, “Well I brought the best livestock. That was to give to God and saved the King to bring back as a prisoner.” King Saul brought back the evil King so as to gloat about himself and build a statue of his greatness. God will not be mocked, for that is the Truth of God Almighty as well.

Never forget, God is Just in all that He does as well as full of Grace. He will do the right thing always, whether we understand now or not. One day we will understand it all when we fully have His heart. Who am I to question Him. He who gave His Son that I might be saved. My place is to trust and obey, recognizing He is my peace, my joy and my hope always and forever.