Mind Renewers

This is a summary (for the sidebar menu) of a series of posts on some of the details of the prophecies in Isaiah related to Cyrus the Great, the Persian emperor who would be used by God to return the Jews from captivity, and his part in the rebuilding of the temple.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — Cyrus Named — Some 150 years before he rose to power, God through Isaiah named Cyrus as the conqueror of Babylon who would free the Jews from captivity.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — The Context in Isaiah — The deliverance from Babylon is actually the focus of 9 chapters in Isaiah, from 40-48, and thus we should not be surprised other references to Cyrus in these chapters.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — “The Gates Shall Not Be Shut” — Isaiah 44 and 45 prophesied several fascinating details about way Cyrus’ army was able to take Babylon.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — “A Ravenous Bird From The East” — The one who will deliver the Jews from captivity is mentioned as coming from the east and from the north, fulfilled in the Median-Persian invasion.  Isaiah spoke of “a ravenous bird” and the battle flag of Cyrus was an eagle with spread wings.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — “The Hidden Treasures” — Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus, when he took the city, would capture immense treasures, and so it was in Babylon.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — Not THOSE Gates! — Isaiah prophesied that the gates of brass would be broken.  It’s not the famous Balawat Gates, whose brass bands are in the British Museum.  It’s the gates of solid brass of Babylon.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — The One True God Against “the gods” — God tells us repeatedly in this section of Isaiah His reason for giving this prophecy.  He wants to show that He alone can pre-declare history, that He is the One true God.

Isaiah’s Amazing Cyrus Prophecy — “Not For Price Nor Reward” — The best part of the whole thing — it’s not just an amazing, wonderful prophecy, it’s also a wonderful picture or illustration of what Christ has done for us.

Some thoughts from last Sunday evening, for those who weren’t there.

The name “Jesus” with His title “Christ” occurs exactly seven times in the Book of Revelation.  Five of those seven are in the first chapter.  The last is in the last verse in the book (Revelation 22:21), which is the only place in the book He is called “Lord Jesus Christ.”

The name “Jesus” without His title “Christ” also occurs exactly seven times in the Book of Revelation.  All of these come after the sixth reference to “Jesus Christ”, and before the final reference to “Jesus Christ.”  The last is in the next to the last verse in the book (Revelation 22:20), which is the only place in the book He is called “Lord Jesus.”

That is all interesting, but despite the prominence of the number seven in Revelation, I’m not sure that it has any great significance here.

I am sure this does have significance, though.  Jesus is called “the Lamb” 28 times in Revelation, twice as often as He is called “Jesus” (with or without the title “Christ”).  The first reference is in chapter 5, with continuing references all the way through to the last chapter.  It’s evident that God wants to remind us, repeatedly, of Christ’s redeeming work as we read Revelation.

Perhaps this is because the Lamb of God is portrayed as being very active in the judgment of an unbelieving world in this book.  It is because He came, as a man, to become the Lamb, the Redeemer, that this authority to judge is given to Him:

John 5:26-27

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.