Isa 45.20 was censored out of a Jewish prayer called the Oleynu (Aleinu). The following is a commentary on this prayer found in the Hertz Authorized Prayer Book, p. 208-209, where it says, “Oleynu is not only one of the noblest of our prayers, but also one of the oldest, ‘proof of its age being the fact that there is no mention in it of the restoration of the Temple and the Jewish State, which would scarely have been omitted had it been composed after their destruction’ (Moses Mendelssohn).
“Oleynu has had a strange fate, almost typical of Israel’s story. The most universalist of prayers, it has yet been the victim of slanderous accusation and persecution, and has repeatedly been suppressed and mutilated. Miserable apostates pretended to see an attack on Christianity (the crucifix) in a phrase based on Isa 30.7 and 45.20 that originally formed part of the first paragraph (‘they worship vain things and emptiness, and pray to a God that cannot save’, before the words ‘for we bend the knee’). Learned rabbis protested against such misinterpretation, and pointed out that both the quotation from Isaiah and the prayer itself were pre-Christian; that Rabh, the renowned Babylonian teacher of the third century, who edited the New Year Mussaf Amidah in which Oleynu is incorporated, lived in an environment where there were no Christians at all. In vain. As late as 1656, Manasseh ben Israel deemed it necessary to devote a whole chapter in his ‘Vindicine Judaeorum’ to its defense. He relates that the Sultan Selim, on reading the Oleynu in a Turkish translation of the Jewish Prayer Book, said ‘Truly this prayer is sufficient for all purposes; there is no need of any other.’ Nevertheless, a half-century later, the Prussian Government ordered the elimination of the words from Isaiah, and prohibited the recitation of the uncensored form. Those words do not now occur in the Ashkenazi Rite.”
The Catholic Church said that these verses in the Oleynu from Isa 30.7 and 45.20 was an attack on the crucifix and that these verses attacked them personally, and they were offended. The point is, the Catholic Church saw these verses in Isaiah, especially 45.20, as an attack on the crucifix. We are saying that the idol talked about is a picture of the Abomination of Desolation. As a result, we believe that the Abomination of Desolation will be a crucifix that is placed in the Temple, with the image of the false messiah on it. It will look like the Shroud of Turin.
Now we are going to go through some of the servant passages and pick out some relevant verses that we need to understand. We need to have a good overview of the message of John in the first century and where he got his message (Isa 40.6 and after), but also what the coming Elijah and the 144,000 will be preaching during the Birth-pains. Isa 41.8 begins by saying “But you, Israel, my servant” then it will go on to Isa 66.24. Christianity says these passages refer to the Messiah. Judaism says it is about Israel. In reality, some verses will be about Messiah, some will be about Israel, and some will be about both. In Isa 41.21-24 he tells the people to compare what he has done for them with the idols and false gods. The Lord wants the idols to come forth and declare their case on what they have done, but they will be of no account. And he who made the idol made it for no purpose, they were useless. In Isa 44.9-20 he says an idol is an “abomination” and this is a passage linked to the Abomination of Desolation. It is made in the form of a man, in the beauty of the man and it sits in a house representing “God” (44.13).
Isa 42 has more servant passages, and these will be about the Messiah. Remember, Isa 40.6 through Isa 66.24 is what the “voice” says. There will be a contrast between the Lord and an idol that is being made to represent the Lord in these verses. In the same way, when there are passages about the Messiah there will be a contrast with the false messiah in places. For example, Isa 42.2-3 says, ” He will not cry out or raise his voice (striving in contention) nor make his voice heard in the streets (doesn’t promote himself). A bruised reed, he will not break, and a dimly burning wick, he will not extinguish. He will faithfully bring forth justice.” Now lets look at Isa 36.6 about the false messiah (personified by Pharaoh), “Behold, you rely on the staff of this crushed reed, on Egypt (Europe) on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it (the reed breaks). So is Pharaoh, king of Egypt (picture of the false messiah) to all who rely on him.” We have a true reed (Messiah) who will not break and we have a false reed (false messiah) who will break, causing anyone that leans on it for support to fall with him.
In Ezek 29.2-7 we read about Pharaoh (remember he is a picture of the false messiah) and he is called a “tannin” or “great monster” (29.3). This alludes to Leviathan (Isa 27.1). It goes on to say that this “tannin” or Leviathan will be defeated and given as food to the birds and beasts (the Feast of Leviathan). Then it goes on to say in verses 6-7, “because they have been only a staff made of reed to the House of Israel (their military treaty was no good) when they took hold of you with the hand (as Israel fell and needed them) you broke and tore all their hands and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their loins quake.”
We know that Israel will make a military treaty with Europe under the false messiah (Dan 9.27). But, it will be of no help in the Birth-pains, especially when Russia/Gog and Magog invades on Rosh Ha Shannah at the end of the third year and beginning of the fourth year of the Birth-pains. They will be defeated by God by Yom Kippur ten days later. The false messiah will attack Russia itself (Ezek 39.6; Micah 5.5-6), take credit for Russia’s defeat, then move into Israel by Nisan 10.
The Abomination of Desolation will be set up by then and the false messiah, claiming to be “Jesus” of Replacement Theology Christianity, will declare himself “God” in the Temple in Jerusalem. Israel has believed as a nation in Yeshua since the Russian defeat. They know that it was God and that Yeshua is the true Messiah because of the teaching of the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 (Ezek 39.22). When the false messiah declares that he is “Jesus” and this is linked to the Abomination of Desolation, they will flee into the Jordanian wilderness, from the Yarmuk River in the north all the way down to Sinai and the Wadi Rum in the south, for three and a half years (Rev 12.13.17).
Isa 42.10 says that there will be a “new song.” This expression means “man has been restored and the Messiah has come.” The term “Chadash Shir” (New Song) is masculine here, but usually it is “Chadash Shirah” which is feminine. There is a story associated with this. Our music is on an eight note scale. A Kinnor (harp) has ten strings and the “new song” will be a ten note scale. In the first redemption, there was the “Song of Moses.” At the beginning of the “Day of the Lord” or “Lord’s Day” there are certain psalms that are recited in a prayer book. This service is called the “Kabbalat Shabbat” or “Receiving the Sabbath.” Psalm 95-99 and Psalm 29 are read, and you will see “new song” (Chadash Shir-masculine) in Psalm 96.1 and 98.1. This is because the Messiah has come (an idiom). Isa 42.10 is referring to when the Messiah comes. Isa 42.11 says, “Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, the settlements where Kedar (“black tents” of the Beduins) inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela (Petra-Isa 63; Isa 16) sing aloud, let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.” They will sing for joy. There are other passages that indicate that groups of Arabs will become believers in Yeshua, and Jordan seems to be where they are.
What we are doing is going over the Servant Passages, which is the message of the “voice” of Isa 40.6 to Isa 66.24. It would be best for you to read these Servant Passages for yourself, but we are just stopping at certain places along the way to bring out some information. There are certain things to keep in mind. The verses about the greatness of God are going to be contrasted with an idol (a picture of the Abomination of Desolation) being made and put up. This will be the message of the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 during the first three and a half years of the Birth-pains. Messiah is coming and the whole earth will know about it. The “voice” was Yochanon Ha Matvil (John the Immerser) in the first century, but it will also be the “Elijah” of the first three and a half years of the Birth-pains in the future. As you read these passages, you will see the word “arm” mentioned over and over again (40.1-11, 44.12, 48.4, 51.5, 51.9, 52.10, 53.1 and 59.16). The word “arm” is “zeroah” and it alludes to the Messiah. Let’s look at this concept deeper.
In Gen 38.27-30 talks about Tamar having twins. While she is giving birth, one child put out his hand and the midwife took a scarlet thread and wrapped it around his hand. But, he withdrew his hand and the other child came out before him, making him first-born. He was named “Perez” or “Poretz” in Hebrew, meaning “breachmaker” because he breached the birth canal first. Then the one with the scarlet around his hand came out, and he was named “Zeroah” meaning “arm.” What does all this mean?
Adam was first-born and his sin caused a “breach” (Poretz) and then the second Adam in Yeshua came (Zeroah) who is called the “Arm (Zeroah) of the Lord.” Poretz is also a picture of Yochanon Ha Matvil who came in the spirit and power (like mind) of Elijah. He preceded the Messiah in the first century (came first) and caused a “breach” in the sheepfold (Micah 2.12-13) by removing the stones and what stands in the way. The next Poretz will be Elijah before Yeshua comes the second time, and he will do the same thing. This is what the “voice” is saying in Isa 40.3. This allows the Shepherd (Messiah) to lead his sheep out into the pasture (the Kingdom of God/Heaven).
In Part 21, we will pick up in Isa 43.
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