The book of Isaiah is the first of the 4 major prophets of the Old testament. Isaiah's ministry spanned over 50 years, he spoke to and witnessed the major events covering 4 kings in Judah; Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. God used him to confront the idolatry of both Israel and Judah, the oppression of the poor and orphaned, and the complete lack of love in the society. Isaiah's message blends foretelling; he literally saw into the end times we are living presently in right now, with forth-telling, meaning he lived amongst the people and confronted them with the message God was giving him. His writings are eschatological in nature in that they not only saw and spoke of the coming of the messiah, but he spoke about both of the messiah's first and second coming and about the coming of a new heaven and a new earth. It was Isaiah who prophesied to the king Ahaz that God was going to give him a sign, the virgin would conceive and give birth to a son who will be called Immanuel, God with us. That prophecy alone was fulfilled 700 years later at the birth of Jesus. Read the book of Isaiah in awe at the power and graciousness of God.
