Behold Me, Behold Me
Isa 65:1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
Grace was given to the Gentiles , who believed the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The first thing that comes to mind is Isa 53.
Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Who has believed? Let's go on a quick tour through the scriptures to see who has believed.
Righteous Abraham
Gen 15:6 And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
A reluctant prophet and the power of God
Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
The religious leaders had no faith, but the tax collectors and harlots believed the true report
Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Only one way of salvation: faith in Jesus
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Believe and become disciples
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Believe and love God most of all
John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Believe the testimonies
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
The Gentiles believed
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
Not by the law, but by faith are ye saved
Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Acts 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
James the head of the Jerusalem church regarding the Gentile Christians, gave them four things to abstain from: Idolatry, fornication, things strangled and blood. These all were practiced and accepted by Gentiles in their former way of worship, but were an offence to the Jewish believers. Man made idols of gods were to be put away as well as the eating of meat sacrificed to the gods. This was addresses by Paul in 1 Cor 8.
1 Cor 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1 Cor 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
1 Cor 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1 Cor 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
This was an offence to the Jews. Fornication involved temple prostitutes, widely accepted among the Gentiles, but not God's way. Things strangled were to be avoided for life is in the blood. The blood was to be spilled, a type of Christ's blood spilled, also a practice of the Jews. The blood was not to be eaten or drank, which was a common practice among the Gentiles.
Ask yourself, do you follow the abominable things of the world? Or do you come out of the world to please the LORD. Fornication, is common now in the world. They do not say anything about living together apart from marriage anymore. Things are so bad in the world that it is unlawful to speak against homosexuality. Values of the world are becoming opposite of those of God in his Holy Bible. The world lives in and values the things that God has told us not to do.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
1 Pet 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Isa 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
A disciple does the will of God, not his own will. How many of us give God our choices, rather than accepting his will? The rebellious walk in a way according to their own thoughts, to trust in their own wisdom, their own judgment, their own thinking, instead of obeying the LORD.
Isa 65:3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
Idol worship was common. This is why the LORD allowed Israel to be taken captive. What things do we put ahead of our love of God?
Isa 65:4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
These things were unclean, against the law of Moses and an abomination to God. Do we willfully disobey God? More important than laws, is the authority behind them. If we disobey and treat God as if he were not real; where is the fear of God? If we love him and fear him, how can we do what he hates? How can we ignor the one we love and obey? Where is our hearts desire and what do we obey?
Isa 65:5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
I can see this attitude in many of the denominations and especially the pseudo Christian cults. We are the only true believers they say. But they are arrogant and rebellious. They speak with pride: "Our way is the true way, all others are wrong." Jesus is the way. This separates many religious people who add works to their form of religion as the only "true" way.
We hear the warnings; can we see?
2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Tim 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Tim 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Tim 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Isa 65:6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
Isa 65:7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Pay day is coming; the day of reckoning. Will we join with the world and hide among the rocks at his appearance?
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Will we only fear God at that time? Fear God now and do his will. He has given us much freedom and grace. Let's use it to advance his name and his kingdom. Do we continue to hear his voice calling us? Do we hear and turn to him when he cries Behold me? Or are we too busy doing our own will? Sometimes we are too busy doing religious things; too busy to hear Jesus when he desires to lead us.
God the Father made it clear
Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Take note and make adjustments in your life. Put God first and hear His Son. Hear him as he calls "Behold Me," and follow him. Lead us Holy Spirit in the will of God, not our own thoughts. Amen
The Blessed Remnant
Isa 65:8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
Isa 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
The LORD sees a remnant of Judah that serve him and he will not destroy them. They are as a cluster of grapes saved from the crushing; the blood bath of the winepress. We are in Christ a cluster of grapes; the fruit of the Holy Spirit, in those saved from a people that will be under the wrath of God.
Isa 65:9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
Jesus spoke of a last days remnant; the elect of God.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Isa 65:10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Those who seek God and stay close to him are blessed. In times of trouble, God's people find green pastures and rest. He is our rest and peace.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
The Cursed Rebellious
Isa 65:11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
That "troop," gad, refers to the worship of a pagan god, that supposedly would distribute good fortune. They forget God's covenant place of worship, on the holy mountain of Jerusalem and instead worshipped the idols of the nations. America is an example of a rebellious people, troubled on every side, bad news every day, but many still serve false gods, many having exchanged the true faith for a lie. There were and are many who refuse to believe in and to come near the LORD who is our peace.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Isa 65:12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
Prov 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Prov 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Prov 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Prov 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Prov 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Prov 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Prov 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Prov 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Prov 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Prov 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Isa 65:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
Isa 65:14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
Oh how sad it is to meet those who cannot come to the LORD. They are a cursed people, having hardened their hearts, they are given over to their evil ways. May the Lord have mercy on all who call upon his name. His own servants he blesses. The rebellious do not receive good things of the LORD. The LORD promises to meet our needs, He gives us joy of heart; the rebellious have sorrow, confusion and unrest.
Isa 65:15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
The rebellious leave behind a cursed name : Cain, Esau, Ahab, Judas, they all have perished, but the Lord has a remnant that serve him. They shall have a new name; we today are named as Christians, the faithful, the chosen of God.
Isa 65:16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
The blessed shall bless himself in the God of truth. All things are from God; all blessings, all power, and all good things. In Christ we are given his authority and power. This is available when we are in his will, as he directs by his Holy Spirit.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
There are Hebrews under the old covenant and there are Christians under the new covenant. Out of these who are called the children of God, there is a faithful remnant. A chosen few who serve the LORD and are close to him. They will continue into eternal life.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Salvation is by faith and by their works and their fruit you shall know them. We know that salvation is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed his blood as payment for our sins. No man can make his own way, we must believe the promises of God. Are you part of the faithful remnant?
End Times Things
Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
No memories of the past evil, will be something to thank God for.
Peter also warned the Christians of a coming destruction of this earth; new heavens and a new earth, warning them to seek righteousness and holiness.
2 Pet 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
It would same to refer to a nuclear holocaust.
2 Pet 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
The Millennial kingdom first, then the new heavens and the new earth. There will be no sin or flesh in the new earth.
2 Pet 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
In Revelation this is repeated, in the time frame after the Great White Throne judgement. So the new heaven and the new earth refers to a time after the Millennium.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
In New Jerusalem; only the glorified saints of God will be there, with the angels. God will be the light with his son, the Lamb of God. There will be joy and no more sorrows; no more tears and memories of the past.
However, in the Millennium, people of earth will still be living, with their memories of the past. Prophecy often does not come in time order. Isaiah now speaks of the Millennial reign of Christ Jesus.
Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
A hundred year old child, no early deaths due to disease or affliction; but the sinner being a hundred years old, shall be accursed. Sinners live along with the redeemed; the redeemed are the blessed of God, they will go on to live forever in New Jerusalem. The sinner will be accursed and be separated in a place of torment. The first signs of the end time Millennial kingdom began with the gathering of God's elect people. This began when Israel again became a nation in 1948.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
In 1949 two evangelists, Billy Graham and Oral Roberts began to warn people of the coming kingdom and to bring them in through faith in Jesus Christ. In the Millennial Kingdom on earth, salvation is still by faith in Jesus Christ. Children born to the elect in the kingdom, still inherit the nature of Adam. All humans have the sin nature. If a child is one hundred years old, perhaps an adult will be as in the time of Adam? Jesus will bring the creation back to the beauty of the time of the Garden of Eden. Adam lived to be almost a thousand years old.
Gen 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
Isa 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
Isa 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Psa 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
With satan bound for a thousand years, there will be peace on earth. There will never be peace on earth, so long as satan entices men to sin. Pride, self glory, power and lusts fill the minds of humans because of satan. That is why we must be diligent to renew our minds in God's word. It is not enough to claim we are saved, we must keep ourselves in the will of God.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Put on the spiritual things that God has provided through Jesus Christ, given in Ephesians 6; the whole armor of God. Which of these can you do without? salvation, righteousness, truth, the gospel of peace, faith, and the word of God. We need all of these to serve our Lord.
Isa 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Earth being restored, will bring back the beauty and peace of the Garden of Eden.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
Earlier, Isaiah gave a similar prophecy. Things repeated are established and important.
Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
All creation groans waiting for the renewal.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The angel Gabriel spoke of the future to the virgin Mary
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Jesus will reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years, then shall come a New Jerusalem.
Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Some teach that there is a coming kingdom on earth; they say that is all there is. Well, if they are alive when Jesus returns, they may make it to the Millennial kingdom. However, by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, we shall continue and be with him in the New Jerusalem. We can know we will live forever now. Do not let anyone try to destroy your faith. Faith In Jesus is the entrance to heaven. We become his spiritual people of God, abiding with Him forever. Hail to the King of Glory!
Isaiah 66
Isaiah 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings Ministries
Eaglewings Journal