Isaiah 42:23 – “Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?”

[Tony Cullen – June 10, 2019]

This study is based on the question posed in Isaiah 42:23 – “Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?”  We will see how this same question was being asked in the new covenant when it was posed to Christ this way: “Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife” (Luk 20:33).

None but Christ can restore “this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore” of Isaiah 42:22, and in our captivity and blindness of which God has caused the prophet to speak (Isa 63:17, Eze 14:9), we come to see by these stories that prophesy reveals to us (1Pe 1:12) how the Lord makes His strength perfect through our weakness and ultimately reveals to all of mankind how each man in his order will learn “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable” (Isa 42:21).

Because I had not hearkened to God’s words, sent to me by His prophets, I had to go into Babylon and then, by the grace of God, be dragged out of ‘her my people’ through years of being reproved by my own iniquities which corrected me (Jer 29:19-32, Jer 2:19). God has been merciful to work with His bride to make her ready, and continues to sanctify us, giving us increase as we overcome the beasts of the field little and by little (Exo 23:30), believing and knowing Christ will make His bride ready, and we will go onto perfection on the third day, overcoming in this life by His power (Luk 13:32, Zec 4:6).

With these verses in mind, we can now look at whom it is God has ordained to “hearken and hear for the time to come” as seen through various parables found in Luke 20:33-38 and Matthew 22:27-33 and scriptures which reveal our Father has appointed a time for Christ to be married to one wife, who will be blessed to have ears to hear and eyes to see in this age (Luk 8:10), being made ready (Rev 19:7) as we “hearken and hear for the time to come” with “a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1Pe 3:4-7, Eph 5:22-30).

We will also look at the blindness in part which has come upon Israel [the world] for our sakes (2Co 4:15), “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2Pe 3:7) knowing that would be our state and lot except for the grace through faith our Father is mercifully showing to a few in this age, giving us the power through Christ to “receive not testimony from man” (Joh 5:34, 1Jn 4:17).

Christ said, “But I receive not testimony from man: [7 husbands of Matthew 22:28], but these things I say, that ye might be saved” in John 5:34, knowing that not all would be disciples indeed in this age who “receive not testimony from man [‘yet carnal men‘]” (Mat 24:13, 1Jn 4:17). It is those who are blessed to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy in this age who will be saved, and who, like Christ, can say, “But these things I say, that ye might be saved” (what did Christ say – Joh 12:49). It was in the context of marriage that Christ spoke these words, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God,” When we don’t know the power of God in the resurrection, we do err because we have not been raised in heavenly places where we are able to properly discern and divide the word of God (Eph 2:6, Joh 11:25-26, Joh 6:28).

Mat 22:28  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 
Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Joh 5:34  But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Starting with this parable in Luke 20:33-38, we will compare it with Matthew 22:27-33 and John 5:28-47 to show who it is Christ is talking about in Luke 20:34-35 when He says “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world” [Joh 1:27].

Luk 20:34  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:[speaking of the 1st resurrection]

Joh 1:27  He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

John 5:28-47 reveals how God blinds us from not being able to enter into life and shows us the accompanying spirit that will always manifest amongst those who cannot live these words in this life (Mat 20:25-27). God’s elect have been ordained from the foundation of the world to “be accounted worthy to obtain that world” by grace through faith, and are now rejoicing in the earnest of the inheritance God has bestowed upon those who are called His sons today (Eph 1:14, 1Jn 3:1).

Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 
Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 
Mat 20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Luk 20:33  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven [7 men complete Babylon – 7 nations – and they all had her to wife] had her to wife.
Luk 20:34  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: [many wives, many churches]
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy [are called out of Babylon (many harlot wives) and are now the one bride and wife of Christ] to obtain that world^G165, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: [God’s elect do not go from church to church any longer and are not given to  marriage because from the foundation of the world we were ordained to be the one wife and bride of Christ who first came out of Babylon (Eph 1:4). Bringing forth much fruit is bringing forth correct doctrine that can be likened unto children, as opposed to the many lies in Babylon that are filled with false doctrine, many false children born of the harlot churches. (Rev 15:8, Rev 9:2)].
Luk 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. [the first resurrection to LIFE we now experience in earnest and one day in the fulness (1Co 13:12)]

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Gen 4:1  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 

Luk 20:37  Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush [IN TYPE AND SHADOW 1Pe 1:12] when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. [a type of the elect who go through a process of judgment (3) in order to be made ready as the one wife or bride of Christ  (Rev 19:7)]
Luk 20:38    For he is not a God of the dead [those who have many wives in this life typifying churches with no stay of water or bread of life (Isa 3:1, Joh 6:48)], but of the living: for all live unto him. [We are all going to be saved each man in his order, and all do live unto him, unto God who is working all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11, Act 17:28)]

All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, in two separate resurrections as the sum of God’s word shows and these verses are witness (Luk 20:33-38).

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  
Joh 5:29    And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.  

Joh 5:33  Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.  
Joh 5:34   But  I receive not testimony from man: [This was a people whom Christ declared “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” and Christ is the resurrection and the power of God to which John was bearing witness (Joh 11:25)] but these things I say, that ye might be saved.  
Joh 5:35    He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.  
Joh 5:36    But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish [Php 1:6], the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me [1Jn 4:17, Joh 20:21].
Joh 5:37   And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.  Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.  
Joh 5:38   And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not [Rom 8:9, 1Jn 4:6].
Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures;  for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  
Joh 5:40    And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.  
Joh 5:41  I receive not honour from men  [(3Jn 1:9) – I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Christ in us not being received by others (Mat 10:22)]  
Joh 5:42   But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.  
Joh 5:43   I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.  
Joh 5:44  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?  [2Co 11:30]
Joh 5:45   Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is  one  that accuseth you,  even  Moses, in whom ye trust. [(Php 3:8-9)] 
Joh 5:46   For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.  (TYPE AND SHADOW wrote of Christ and His Body Luk 20:37-38, 1Pe 1:12)
Joh 5:47  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?  

Luk 20:38   For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

1Pe 1:12   Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

Now regarding who it is that does receive Christ and why some can and others can’t, is explained in this parable of a woman who had seven husbands:

Mat 22:27   And last of all the woman died also.  
Mat 22:28   Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.  
Mat 22:29   Jesus answered and said unto them,  Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. [Isa 3:1, Joh 6:48]
Mat 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.[We are those angels of God in earnest today, being raised in heavenly places by “the power of God” (Rev 22:8-9)]  
Mat 22:31  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,  
Mat 22:32  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  [1Pe 1:12, Rom 4:17]
Mat 22:33  And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.  

Luk 20:33   Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.  
Luk 20:34   And Jesus answering said unto them,  The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:  [symbolically we were in our time given to marriage in Babylon to the many harlot churches, however God’s elect are called out of Babylon in this age as His elect bride who has one husband and are revealed as “they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead” (Luk 20:35)]
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:  
Luk 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.  
Luk 20:37  Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  
Luk 20:38   For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. [1Pe 1:12, Rom 4:17] 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Joh 5:29   And^G2532 shall come forth^{G1607 [G5695]}; they that have done^{G4160 [G5660]} good^G18, unto^G1519 the resurrection^G386 of life^G2222; and^G1161 they that have done^{G4238 [G5660]} evil^G5337, unto^G1519 the resurrection^G386 of damnation^G2920

1Co 15:23   But every man in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming [1st resurrection].  

1Th 4:15   For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive  and  remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent^{[G5348  precede]} them which are asleep [1st resurrection].

1Co 15:24   Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  
1Co 15:25   For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  
1Co 15:26  The last enemy  that  shall be destroyed  is death. [“The end” described in these verses (1Co 15:24) is also mirrored in this statement in the book of Revelation (Rev 11:15-19, 1Co 6:3) and represents the thousand year symbolic period when the saints shall rule and reign under Christ. This is the time when the nations will be judged with a rod of iron, a judgment which precedes the second resurrection lake of fire judgment (1Co 15:46, Rev 20:6-15)].

Rev 11:15   And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  
Rev 11:16   And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,  
Rev 11:17   Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.  
Rev 11:18   And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged [this is the rod of iron judgment on the dead who are burying the dead in this life. We begin to bring a rod-of-iron judgment upon the world that precedes the lake of fire (1Co 15:46)], and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.  
Rev 11:19   And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. [a rod of iron judgement being described that is coming from the elect who represent those “great voices in heaven” of verse 15] 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy  is  he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  
Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,  
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  
Rev 20:9   And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  [the fire that comes down is real and symbollic of “lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail“ that will occur in the lake of fire to wipe away the refuge of lies (Isa 28:17). That hail is like the rod of iron of (Rev 11:15) but this time the deadly wound that was healed in the beast will be once and for all destroyed (1Co 15:26, Rev 20:10)].
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet  are,  and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

This book (“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened”) is going to be judged by this book “and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” [1Co 6:3, Mat 22:29-30].

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  
Rev 20:15   And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  

The kings of the earth being spoken of in these verses (Rev 17:1-6) are represented by the seven men who have had this one wife (Luk 20:33, Mat 5:29) and the woman to whom our spiritually carnal flesh is drawn at first is “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev 17:5-6).

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 
Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 
Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 
Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 

Mat 5:30  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 
Mat 5:31  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 
Mat 5:32  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

When our wife or the one whom we thought was of us (1Jn 2:19) is divorced “for the cause of fornication”, it is speaking of one who symbolically still has several husbands and is still given in marriage. If someone marries her, they are committing adultery because they are marrying her doctrinal position, which is the fornication we are called to put out of our midst by following the steps given to us in God’s word in (Mat 18:15-17).

Mat 18:9  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.