The Book of Isaiah

There is a three-part purpose found in Isaiah's writing. 1. The prophet first confronts his own nation and then other nations with God's message about their sin and the consequences of their sin in the form of God's coming judgment. 2. Then, based on visions and revelations from God, Isaiah prophesied a message of hope to a future generation of Jewish exiles who would in time be freed from captivity. 3. Finally, Isaiah prophesied that God was going to send the Messiah - "The Anointed One", Savior - whose message of salvation finally would encompass all the nations of the earth. This message would provide hope for God's people under both the old and new covenants.


Nine major features characterize the book of Isaiah. 1. It is written in Hebrew poetic form and is considered a literary masterpiece. 2. Isaiah is called "the evangelical prophet" because, of all the Old Testament books, his prophecies about the Messiah contain the fullest and clearest  message about Jesus Christ. 3. His vision of Jesus' sacrificial suffering and death on the Cross for our sins is the most specific and detailed prophecy in the entire Bible. 4. It is the most theological and comprehensive of all Old Testament prophetic books. 5. It contains more revelation about God's nature, character, majesty and holiness than any other Old Testament prophetic book. Isaiah's God is holy and all-powerful. 6. Isaiah - whose name means "The Lord Saves" - is the prophet of salvation. He uses the specific terms "salvation" nearly three times more than all other Old Testament books combined. 7. Isaiah mentions the Holy Spirit more often than any other Old Testament prophet. 8. Isaiah often refers back to earlier redemptive events in Israel's history. 9. Along with Deuteronomy and Psalms, Isaiah is one of the three Old Testament books most often quoted or mentioned in the New Testament.


Isaiah prophesies about John the Baptist as the forerunner to the Messiah. The following are some of Isaiah's many Messianic prophecies and their New Testament correlation to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ: His birth into humanity and His nature as God; His youth; His mission; His obedience; His message and empowerment by the Holy Spirit; His miracles; His suffering; His rejection; His sacrificial death; His ascension to heaven; and His second coming.