The Scroll of Yeshayahu

Introduction

Penned in just forty years, the writings of Yeshayahu in the Great Isaiah Scroll entertain the subject matter of the past, present, and future with a divine and panoramic perspective.

Should the Egyptian pyramids or the edifices of Stonehenge be of human interest, the writings of Isaiah outshine them as more than a quaint reminder of bewildering achievements in civilizations past—indeed; a living document of the human story traced through the Hebraic nation.

Preserved in the caves of Qumran, the Great Isaiah Scroll is perhaps one of the most well-documented and complete ancient writings we have in our possession. 1 Today it lives in the collection of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures and is a remarkable document on many accounts.

In it we are presented with a myriad of astounding predictions: historical events spanning over a thousand years, specifics on the character of Israel’s messiah, and accounts of the end of human history.

Yet, despite Isaiah’s popularity among many, in modern times his writings have been largely misunderstood, neglected, and increasingly decontextualized; consequently, the richness of his prophecies has been lost.

In this compilation of reflections we will examine some of the most significant patterns, predictions, and theological messages in the document.

In Part 1, Homologously Encrypted, we examine the structure of Isaiah’s document, making the startling discovery that the document as a whole appears to foreshadow the collection it is a part of—the canon of scriptures. We will get a grasp for the flow of the book in juxtaposition to the biblical scriptures in the Jewish Tanakh and New Testament writings.

In Part 2, Panoramic Perspectives, we will examine much of the text’s predictive contents, tracing their fulfillment through historical documents or, where yet unfulfilled, expand on these futuristic predictions with the aid of complementary eschatological texts. In chapter 6, Identifying the Lord’s Servant, we also explore the Servant Songs in Isaiah, a collection of four poems found in chapters 40–55.

Finally, in Part 3, Visions of Divine Personality, we will lay a defense for the deity of Messiah. No other prophet establishes the oneness of the creator as does Isaiah, 2 yet albeit somewhat paradoxically, numerous characters and personalities presented in the text appear to possess his divine attributes and responsibilities.

Each section includes a series of supplemental charts and visualizations to help summarize the content matter therein presented.

In the process, the reader will not only gain a deeper understanding of the book of Isaiah but will become better acquainted with the books of the Bible as a whole. These are great exercises for gaining familiarity with the scriptures and can be applied to the study of other biblical texts.

Finally, in the Appendix, we have also included considerations for questions on the authenticity and authorship of the text. Is Isaiah the work of a single author?

The study of Isaiah has inspired many throughout the ages, from Messiah, Handel’s epic oratorio, to inscriptions on monuments at the United Nations headquarters.

I invite you on this journey in discovering the remarkable writings of Isaiah, I trust it will be nothing short of transformative.