Declaring the End from the Beginning

The poetry which constitutes the book of Isaiah is divided into two parts. Chapters 1-39 consists of charges against Judah and subsequent punishments. God miraculously delivered Judah from Sennacherib's army (chapters 36-39), but Isaiah prophesied that Babylon would rise to power and carry Judah into captivity (39:5-6). Interspersed in these chapters are God's repeated invitation for Judah to repent and turn back to his Maker.

Chapters 40-66 form a matchless prophesy of restoration. Babylon, which had not become a world power in Isaiah's lifetime, would be defeated by the Medes and Persians. Isaiah even identifies the conqueror by name, Cyrus (chapter 45:1) 150 years before he was born!

In this prophecy of world events, Isaiah offers God's salvation to all who will listen. He presents the coming Messiah as the hope of the world.