Text
Isaiah 40-66
Messages of Comfort
Next week’s assignment:
• 2 Kings 21-23; Nahum;
Zephaniah; Habakkuk
Isaiah 40
“An acquaintance with [the]
attributes in the divine
character, is essentially
necessary, in order that the
faith of any rational being can
center in him for life and
salvation.”
Joseph Smith
President
(Lectures on Faith,
3:19)
Text
Isaiah 40:12
Text
Text
Text
Isaiah 40:15
Text
Isaiah 40:21-22
Text
Isaiah 40:25-26
Text
This is a close-up of a small portion of the Milky Way
Galaxy. Astronomers estimate there are more than
one thousand billion stars in the Milky Way alone.
Isaiah 41
Isaiah 41:8-14
I am Thy God. Ye are MY people.”
“
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob (Israel)
R
S
L
Judah
Z
David
Jesus Christ
I
G
A
D
N
B
Joseph
Manasseh
Ephraim
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1.
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2.
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1.
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2.
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
vs.
Our Omnipotent
God
Their Impotent
Idols
Isaiah 44:9-10, 14-17, 21, 24
You can worship the gods you have created,
or you can worship the God who created you.
Isaiah 46:1-7
You can worship gods that you carry around,
or you can worship the God who carries you.
Isaiah 46:9-10
You can worship gods who cannot “see” or
“know” (Isa. 44:9) or you can worship the
God who knows “the end from the beginning.”
5 Examples of the Lord Seeing
“the End from the Beginning”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Foreordination of the House of Israel
King Cyrus’ Release of the Jews
The Fall of Babylon
The Redemption of Israel
The Atonement of Christ
1. The Foreordination of Israel
Isaiah 44:1-2, 24; 49:5
Foreordained to do what?
• Isaiah 43:10-13; 44:8
• Isaiah 49:6
David A. Bednar
Quorum of the Twelve
(Ensign, Nov. 2005)
“We were foreordained in the
premortal existence and born
into mortality to fulfill the
covenant and promise God
made to Abraham.… That is
who we are, and that is why
we are here—today and
always.”
David A. Bednar
Quorum of the Twelve
(Ensign, Nov. 2005)
“We were foreordained in the
premortal existence and born
into mortality to fulfill the
covenant and promise God
made to Abraham.… That is
who we are, and that is why
we are here—today and
always.”
Russell M. Nelson
Quorum of the Twelve
(“Covenants,” Ensign, Nov. 2011,
88)
“Ours is the responsibility to
help fulfill the Abrahamic
covenant. Ours is the seed
foreordained and prepared to
bless all people of the world.
That is why priesthood duty
includes missionary work. After
some 4,000 years of anticipation
and preparation, this is the
appointed day when the gospel
is to be taken to the kindreds of
the earth.
2. King Cyrus’ Release of the Jews
Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5, 13
3. The Fall of Babylon
Isaiah 47
4. The Final Redemption of Israel
Isaiah 48-52, 54, 56, 60-66
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
3 Nephi 23:1-3
2,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
1,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 A.D.
2,000 A.D.
3??? A.D.
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3. Priesthood/Gospel
Rights
Descendants have a right to Inherit Eternal Life—the
all gospel blessings,
end result of gospel
through the priesthood
covenants
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Israel
(10 Tribes)
Northern Kingdom
Judah
Southern Kingdom
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
10 tribes lose the
promised land and are
scattered (722 B.C.)
Israel gains the
promised land
Jews are scattered
(70 A.D.)
Judah loses the
promised land
(587 B.C.)
The Dark Ages
2,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
Jesus is rejected by
the Jews and
crucified (34 A.D.)
Cyrus allows
Jews to return to
promised land
(537 B.C.)
1,000 A.D.
2,000 A.D.
3??? A.D.
The House of Israel = the Daughter of Zion
The House of Israel is like…
• A lonely, wandering slave
woman whose children have
been taken from her (Isaiah
49:21; 52:2).
• A wife who has separated
herself from her husband and
is deeply in debt to creditors
and cannot pay (Isaiah 50:1).
• A barren woman yearning for
children (Isaiah 54:1).
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
10 tribes lose the
promised land and are
scattered (722 B.C.)
Israel gains the
promised land
Jews are scattered
(70 A.D.)
Judah loses the
promised land
(587 B.C.)
Isa. 48:18-19, 22
The Dark Ages
2,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
Jesus is rejected by
the Jews and
crucified (34 A.D.)
Cyrus allows
Jews to return to
promised land
(537 B.C.)
1,000 A.D.
2,000 A.D.
3??? A.D.
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
10 tribes lose the
promised land and are
scattered (722 B.C.)
Israel gains the
promised land
Jews are scattered
(70 A.D.)
Judah loses the
promised land
(587 B.C.)
Isa. 50:1-6
The Dark Ages
2,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
Jesus is rejected by
the Jews and
crucified (34 A.D.)
Cyrus allows
Jews to return to
promised land
(537 B.C.)
1,000 A.D.
2,000 A.D.
3??? A.D.
Isaiah 49
Isaiah 49:1-3
Isaiah 49:1
1 Nephi 21:1
Isaiah 49:1-3
Joseph Fielding Smith
Quorum of the Twelve
(The Restoration of All
Things, p.129-137)
“The Lord always turns
punishments to the
accomplishment of his purposes.
The scattering of the Israelites
among all nations was a
punishment inflicted upon them,
but a great blessing extended to the
nations among whom they were
scattered....
Joseph Fielding Smith
Quorum of the Twelve
(The Restoration of All
Things, p.129-137)
“We see, then, how through the
scattering of Israel, especially the
descendants of the ten tribes who
mingled with the Gentile nations, the
blood of Abraham had been mixed
with the blood of the Gentiles, and in
this way the Gentiles have been
brought into the seed of Abraham,
and are therefore entitled to receive,
on conditions of their repentance, all
the blessings promised to the seed of
Abraham.”
Isaiah 49:1-3
Cr. D&C 86:8-11
In their scattered state, how does
Zion (the Israelites) feel?
Isaiah 49:14
How does the Lord respond?
Isaiah 49:15-23
How will this happen?
Isaiah 49:6-8
Isaiah 49:8-9
1 Nephi 21:8-9
2 Nephi 3:7, 11
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
10 tribes lose the
promised land and are
scattered (722 B.C.)
Israel gains the
promised land
Jews are scattered
(70 A.D.)
Judah loses the
promised land
(587 B.C.)
The Dark Ages
2,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
Jesus is rejected by
the Jews and
crucified (34 A.D.)
Cyrus allows
Jews to return to
promised land
(537 B.C.)
1,000 A.D.
2,000 A.D.
3??? A.D.
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
10 tribes lose the
promised land and are
scattered (722 B.C.)
Israel gains the
promised land
Our Time!
Isaiah 49:22-23;
52:1-2; 54:1-3
Jews are scattered
(70 A.D.)
Judah loses the
promised land
(587 B.C.)
Isa. 49:6-8
Time of the Gentiles
2,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
Jesus is rejected by
the Jews and
crucified (34 A.D.)
Cyrus allows
Jews to return to
promised land
(537 B.C.)
1,000 A.D.
2,000 A.D.
The Covenant is restored
through Joseph Smith.
Isaiah 49:8
2 Ne. 3:7, 11
3??? A.D.
Isaiah 52:1
Isaiah 52:1-2
D&C 113:7-11
Isaiah 52:1-2
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
10 tribes lose the
promised land and are
scattered (722 B.C.)
Israel gains the
promised land
Our Time!
Isaiah 49:22-23;
52:1-2; 54:1-3
Jews are scattered
(70 A.D.)
Judah loses the
promised land
(587 B.C.)
Israel’s enemies
are destroyed
Isa. 49:24-26;
51:22-23
Isa. 49:6-8
Time of the Gentiles
2,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
Jesus is rejected by
the Jews and
crucified (34 A.D.)
Cyrus allows
Jews to return to
promised land
(537 B.C.)
1,000 A.D.
2,000 A.D.
The Covenant is restored
through Joseph Smith.
Isaiah 49:8
2 Ne. 3:7, 11
3??? A.D.
Isaiah 49:24-25
The History/Future of Covenant Israel
10 tribes lose the
promised land and are
scattered (722 B.C.)
Israel gains the
promised land
Our Time!
Isaiah 49:22-23;
52:1-2; 54:1-3
Jews are scattered
(70 A.D.)
Judah loses the
promised land
(587 B.C.)
Israel’s enemies
are destroyed
Isa. 49:24-26;
51:22-23
Isa. 49:6-8
Time of the Gentiles
2,000 B.C.
1 A.D.
1,000 B.C.
God makes the
Covenant with
Abraham
Jesus is rejected by
the Jews and
crucified (34 A.D.)
Cyrus allows
Jews to return to
promised land
(537 B.C.)
1,000 A.D.
Millennium
2,000 A.D.
The Covenant is restored
through Joseph Smith.
Isaiah 49:8
2 Ne. 3:7, 11
3??? A.D.
The Covenant is
Fulfilled!!!
Isaiah 60
Russell M. Nelson
Quorum of the Twelve
(“Covenants,” Ensign, Nov. 2011,
88)
“This is the time of the promised
gathering of Israel. And we get
to participate! Isn’t that
exciting? The Lord is counting
on us and our sons—and He is
profoundly grateful for our
daughters—who worthily serve
as missionaries in this great time
of the gathering of Israel.”
“If you can’t get excited
about that kind of
assignment in the
drama of history, you
can’t get excited!”
Jeffrey R. Holland
Quorum of the Twelve
(CES Fireside for Young
Adults, September 12,
2004)
Isaiah 52:9-10; 54:1
Isaiah 54:4-10
Stay tuned for this topic next week
(sorry we didn’t make it there this class).
5. The Atonement of Christ
Isaiah 53
End