Much of Isaiah 60 must have been fulfilled in the past rather than in the future, because:
It mentions commodities being transported into Israel by camel, not by trucks.
It mentions incense, which only had significance to God under the Old Covenant.
It mentions the altar and God's house and sanctuary (the Temple) which only had significance under the Old Covenant and which in fact ceased to exist after AD70.
It mentions the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, and the gates - which has already occurred although they were again broken down.
It mentions God's sanctuary being beautified with wood, which already occurred even though it was again destroyed.
It spoke of a righteous city and nation, which came to pass at the return from Babylon, though Israel again returned to folly.
It is followed by chapter 61, which Jesus said was fulfilled by Himself in His generation in Israel.
But God's ways are timeless. Therefore the spirit of the chapter can be applied to Israel, to the Church, to individuals, virtually to any institution, again and again and again.
It mentions commodities being transported into Israel by camel, not by trucks.
It mentions incense, which only had significance to God under the Old Covenant.
It mentions the altar and God's house and sanctuary (the Temple) which only had significance under the Old Covenant and which in fact ceased to exist after AD70.
It mentions the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, and the gates - which has already occurred although they were again broken down.
It mentions God's sanctuary being beautified with wood, which already occurred even though it was again destroyed.
It spoke of a righteous city and nation, which came to pass at the return from Babylon, though Israel again returned to folly.
It is followed by chapter 61, which Jesus said was fulfilled by Himself in His generation in Israel.
But God's ways are timeless. Therefore the spirit of the chapter can be applied to Israel, to the Church, to individuals, virtually to any institution, again and again and again.
But catching God's heart in a chapter of Bible-prophecy is different to the chapter's specific historical fulfilment. The two are not always the same.
Rule:
Don't limit what a prophecy reveals of God's heart to a single historic event where no single event is specified - but also, don't expand the meaning of a specifically prophesied event to refer to random future events.
Rule:
Don't limit what a prophecy reveals of God's heart to a single historic event where no single event is specified - but also, don't expand the meaning of a specifically prophesied event to refer to random future events.
Another rule:
The New Covenant is everlasting, whereas the Old Covenant was temporary. Therefore there shall be no reverting back to the Old Covenant. And therefore any reference in prophecy to Old Covenant practices must have had its fulfilment during Old Covenant times.
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