Proof-text :laugh: LOLGrasshopper said:Here is the problem with taking poetic language literally. You use Is. 11 as a proof text. Notice:
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Notice the Lion? You also quote from Is. 35. Notice what is found in your proof text:
Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
No Lion! So which is it? Is there a Lion or is there not? How do you take these verse literally and deal with your "lion" problem?
A proof-text is the taking of a verse(s) out of their context.
You accuse me of doing this (though I in fact did not) but this is EXACTLY what YOU just did in an attempt to dispove what I said! - LOL.
Isa 35:9 is NOT about there being no lions there at all but is a specific refence about the return of God's people and the 'way' or road which they take to Zion or Jerusalem. It is speaking about the no 'dangers' being there such as the lion or other beasts to cause them to fear on the road like there used to be. It was NOT that there will be no lions. Please please please, keep context in mind and keep it literal unless the texts gives you reason to do otherwise brother. Let the text say what it literally means and when a metophor or allegory is used then interpret that literally as such.
Isaiah is speaking of Christ the King and is the same thing that Paul speaks of.Secondly when you quoted from !s.11, you stopped at verse 9. Continue on to verse 10:
Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Wesley's comments:
Isa 11:10 A root - A branch growing upon the root. Ensign - Shall grow up into a great tree, shall become an eminent ensign. The people - Which not only the Jews, but all nations, may discern, and to which they shall resort. Rest - His resting - place, his temple or church, the place of his presence and abode. Glorious - Shall be filled with greater glory than the Jewish tabernacle and temple were; only this glory shall be spiritual, consisting in the plentiful effusions of the gifts, and graces, of the Holy Spirit.
Paul uses this passage to speak of the Church:
Rom 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Paul did NOT use 'the branch' to speak of the Church because the church does not rule over the Gentiles nor do or are the gentiles supposed to 'trust' in the Church but Christ and Christ alone. He rules and it is in Him we place our trust. Notice the word 'He' ..that shall rise (stand forth) to reign over.. This is speaking of a person, The person of Christ. Notice also the Gentiles are to the trust in the root of Jesse. This can not be the Church for the gentile (or anyone for that matter) are not to place their trust in the Church but Christ alone.
The 'root of Jesse' always refers to Christ Jesus. And sorry but Mr. Wesley along with other Preterist are wrong about this not because 'I' said so but because the text will not allow for such nonsense. Notice if you will that 'the root' is that from which Jesse (plant) did spring and does not mean that which sprang from Jesse. The root is and always shall be Christ the Lord - NOT the Church.
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