Perhaps the most well known Isaiah passage concerning messianic prophecy is found in 2 Nephi 19:6 which is the equivalent of Isaiah 9:6. Let’s set up the passage first. Isaiah is dealing with King Ahaz and in his prophetic utterings Isaiah wants to shock the king with his futuristic insights. “Therefore,” quoting Isaiah, “the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Tag: Isaiah
The Key to understanding Isaiah
“Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.[1]”
The writings of Nephi become a ‘key’ as it were, to unlocking the mysteries of Isaiah. Full comprehension is therefore relegated to those who accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God. For those whose pride blocks the insights provided by divine intervention, the clarity of Isaiah is looking through a glass darkly[2] and the precepts are coded in a script or tongue undecipherable except to those carrying the blood of Israel.
Did Isaiah have restrictions on him?
Given the heavenly restrictions under which Isaiah operated, his message was deliberately obscure, much like the Savior, Who spoke in parables. Isaiah cloaked his message so only those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, can.
Why does the Lord restrict access to truth and gospel principles to His children? For the same reason disciplinary courts are benevolent acts of charity. Knowledge and priesthood authority without the requisite understanding puts the holder under greater condemnation for misuse.
Who has seen the full History of the World?
Isaiah is not the first person to be given access to the prophetic future of the world. Adam saw the history of the world but we don’t have his record. Enoch saw it too, however, he only described the highlights such as the Great Flood, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the 2nd coming of Christ[1]. After the Tower of Babel, the Brother of Jared (Mahonri-Moriancumer) saw the history of the world from the creation to the end of the millennium, but that record is sealed along with the remaining part of the Nephite record[2].