A major end-time event resembling his own day that Isaiah draws on when predicting the end of the world is the apostasy of God’s people—that is, the falling away of those who profess to be God’s covenant people in that day. Because Isaiah’s Seven-Part Synchronous Structure converts the entire Book of Isaiah into an end-time scenario, his writings can be read on two levels: (1) his own day or soon thereafter; and (2) “the last days” or end-time (’aharit hayyamim). Indeed, the world’s end-time scenario is set in motion by the apostasy of God’s people. Their worldliness, backsliding, and rebelliousness are its catalyst.
Isaiah 1:2–4Hear, O heavens! Give heed, O earth! Jehovah has spoken: I have reared sons, brought them up, but they have revolted against me. The ox knows its owner, the ass its master’s stall, but Israel does not know; my people are insensible. Alas, a nation astray, a people weighed down by sin, the offspring of wrongdoers, perverse children: they have forsaken Jehovah, they have spurned the Holy One of Israel, they have lapsed into apostasy.
Isaiah 42:17–20Those who trust in idols and esteem their images as gods shall retreat in utter confusion. O you deaf, listen; O you blind, look and see! Who is blind but my own servant, or so deaf as the messenger I have sent? Who is blind like those I have commissioned, as uncomprehending as the servant of Jehovah — seeing much but not giving heed, with open ears hearing nothing?
Isaiah 6:9–10Go, and say to these people, Go on hearing, but not understanding; Go on seeing, but not perceiving. Make the heart of these people grow fat; dull their ears and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand in their heart, and repent, and be healed.