Contributed by Craig Paardekooper: Published 10/21/2002
[Edtorial comments in square brackets. This article is an excellent example
of the interweaving of Thread 1 (BibleWheel) with Thread 2 (Isaiah-Bible Correlation). -- RAM]
Spoke 22 Themes: Isaiah Chapters 44, 66 and the Book of Acts
Isaiah chapters 44 and 66 both lie on the Spoke 22 of the
Inner Wheel of Isaiah. As such we would expect them to correspond with the books of Acts and Revelations.
Lets start with Isaiah 66 (vss. 14-15):
And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb:
and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
For, behold, THE LORD WILL COME WITH FIRE, and with his chariots
LIKE A WHIRLWIND, to render his anger
with fury, and his rebuke with FLAMES OF FIRE.
Now notice how Isaiah's says the Lord will come with FIRE. Now if you will please
read with me from ACTS (vs. 2:3)
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of FIRE, and it sat
upon each of them.
Do you see the comparison of fire being used here? Also Isaiah says he will come "like" A
WHIRLWIND. Now read with me ACTS 2:2:
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Do you see the comparison here of a whirlwind and a mighty rushing wind, these two are the same thing?
Lets read on even further to understand better. Back to Isaiah 66 (vs. 18):
For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather
ALL NATIONS AND TONGUES; and they shall come, and see my glory.
Now read with me back to Acts (vs. 2:5):
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of
EVERY NATION UNDER HEAVEN.
Do you see here where all nations and tongues were gathered? Do you notice the parallel of events that
Isaiah prophecied would happen at Jesus's coming being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost? Now back to
Isaiah 66 (vs. 19):
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations,
to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have
not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
The word used here for SIGN is [ (Auth), which is based on the essence
of the 22nd letter] Tau, the Cross [cf. The Seal of Truth].
God will place a cross amongst them. Isaiah 66 then describes
a going out of the disciples of the Lord to evangelise the gentile nations. This is precisely what
is described in detail in the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts is the first book in the Bible to
record any out reach/evangelism to the Gentiles by God’s people. And it mentions this evangelism
soon after the events of Pentecost.
It is appropriate that the Tau sign should be given on the Spoke 22 since Tau represents the END of
the cycle and the correspondence between Isaiah 66 and the book of Acts is born out.
What about Isaiah 44? Isaiah 44 is one of only two chapters in Isaiah to speak of the pouring out
of the Spirit upon God's people. [This is dicussed in the InnerWheel article
Isaiah 44 - Acts: God Pours Out His Spirit.]
Finally, Isaiah 66 corresponds to the Book of Revelation
because both speak of the creation of a New Heavens and New Earth. [cf. the
Inner Wheel articles
Isaiah 66: Apocalypse and
Isaiah 66: God's Throne] Re-creation and re-birth seem to be
a central theme of the 22nd Spoke. People are born-again by being filled with the Spirit (as in Acts);
the world is "born-again" when a New Heaven and New Earth are created (as in Revelation).
The cross stands for death and rebirth. [Cf. Genesis 4:
The Doors of Birth and Death.]
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Spoke 22 Themes: Isaiah Chapters 44, 66 and the Book of Acts