The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Isaiah 1:1 LEB
This is a vision of Isaiah who is identified as the son of Amoz. Isaiah saw this vision in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah who were consecutively kings of Judah.
I think the mention of Isaiah's earthly father's name and the mention of the names of these four kings of Judah have to do with accountability and accuracy. This is a simple explanation, but I think it works. This gave the original hearers an opportunity to check whether Isaiah was a true or false prophet by checking up with his family and with what was happening around them. We, who live in this point in time, will not meet Isaiah and Amoz but we can look up the time referenced here and check whether Isaiah was a true or a false prophet.
There is only one test for prophets, if a so-called "prophet" speaks something and it does not come to pass then he is a false prophet. This is a sure test. This is a scriptural test (Deuteronomy 18:22). It turns out, according to orthodox Christians, that Isaiah was a true prophet of God. The warnings that he gave were by the Holy Spirit, they represented the true and holy character of God, the judgments that he prophesied about came true, and even the Messianic prophecies that he may or may not have understood himself eventually came true in history and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that the book of Isaiah and the rest of the Old Testament were finally and fully fulfilled in the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one central figure in our utterings and He is Jesus Christ.
Too many take the title of prophet/prophetess lightly nowadays. Or, on the other hand, they take it too seriously and behave like controllers and centre of other people's lives. And too many false prophecies have been going around nowadays. Too many have made their listeners fearful, kept them ignorant and demonized fair dissidence. Too many have even taken the Lord's name in vain. These are not light matters. These are serious issues. Are these not sins? And because of their other claim, i.e. they claim to be our brothers or sisters, we find some difficulties to confront them for the lies, false doctrines, and vain usage of God's name. This difficulty should not exist. It exists because of a false understanding of the grace of God, especially among us who hold on to the doctrine of dispensations. We say that now is the dispensation of grace, and it may well be! Yet, in reality, it seems that now is the dispensation of grace therefore we can break God's law and even commit blasphemy without any fear of any eternal consequences. By some of their words and more accurately by their behaviour, that is what some people mean when they speak of the dispensation of grace. What perversion is this? Are we not then to understand that these people are wolves in sheep's clothing?
When you prophesy, give us reasonable accountability. When you prophesy, give us accurate time frames. If the Holy Spirit is really speaking through you then why are there so many inventive manoeuvring after the prophecy has failed? Do these things not cause concern in us?
Credits:
Scriptures taken from e-sword and biblegateway.com
Photo by Jordan Madrid on Unsplash.
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