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Isa.
49:1...Called from the womb-His humanity...Mt. 1:18
Isa. 49:5...A
Servant from the womb...Lu. 1:31; Phil. 2:7
Isa. 49:6...He
is Salvation for Israel...Lu. 2:29-32
Isa. 49:6...He
is the Light of the Gentiles...Acts 13:47
Isa. 49:6...He
is Salvation unto the ends of the earth... Acts 15:7-18
Isa. 49:7...He
is despised of the Nation... Jn.
8:48-49
Isaiah 49:1-7 Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken, ye peoples, from far: YHWH hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name; (2) And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me; and He hath made me a polished shaft, in His quiver hath He concealed me; (3) And He said unto me: 'Thou art My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.' (4) But I said: 'I have laboured in vain; I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; yet surely my right is with YHWH, and my recompense with my Master.' (5) And now saith YHWH that formed me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, and that Israel be gathered unto Him -- for I am honourable in the eyes of YHWH, and my Master is become my strength -- (6) Yea, He saith: 'It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the offspring of Israel; I will also give thee for a light of the nations, that My salvation may be unto the end of the earth.' (7) Thus saith YHWH, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him who is despised of men, to him who is abhorred of nations, to a servant of rulers: kings shall see and arise, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of YHWH that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.
Lets be honest. Is this a messianic text? There is nothing in it or the context that speaks of a Davidic king. Can it be interpreted as such? What signs do we see? Who is giving this prophecy? Most likely, Isaiah! Who is the prophecy about? Israel! Does that help us to understand who is speaking in these chapters?
There are several ways of looking at these verses. It could be that the first four verses refer to Israel, and then verse 5 is Isaiah himself. Or it could be that Isaiah is speaking for the righteous remnant within Israel, the ones who actually obey YHWH speaking throughout. I go with the first option.
But can it refer to the messiah, much less Yeshua? Now for people who say that Yeshua is YHWH, it cannot, since what then would be the meaning of statements like that in verse 4? And since when has YHWH had a deity over him ("and my deity has become my strength" v.5)? For those that say he's not, but he is still the messiah, when did he raise the tribes of Jacob and restore the offspring of Israel? When did he labour in vain and spend his strength for nothing, as written in v.3?
Whether this verse is messianic or not, and I doubt it is, it doesn't apply to Yeshua.
Isa.
50:3...Heaven is clothed in black at His humiliation... Lu. 23:44, 45
Isa. 50:4...He
is a learned counsellor for the weary... Mt. 11:28, 29
Isa.
50:5...The Servant bound willingly to obedience... Mt. 26:39
Isa.
50:6a..."I gave my back to the smiters."... Mt.
27:26
Isa.
50:6b...He was smitten on the cheeks... Mt. 26:67
Isa.
50:6c...He was spat upon... Mt. 27:30
Isaiah 50:1-9 Thus saith YHWH: Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away. Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish become foul, because there is no water, and die for thirst. (3) I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. (4) The Lord YHWH hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I should know how to sustain with words him that is weary; He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught. (5) The Lord YHWH hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward. (6) I gave my back to the smiters, and my checks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (7) For the Lord YHWH will help me; therefore have I not been confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. (8) He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand up together; who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. (9) Behold, the Lord YHWH will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Behold, they all shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up.
Is this a messianic prophecy? It doesn't seem to be. But lets take what the Christians use as a proof-text piece by piece and see how it matches up.
Does verse three talk about the heavens going dark at Yeshua's humiliation? Reading from verse 1 and 2, it is YHWH speaking about himself and his ability to redeem his people from their captivity and verse 2 and 3 talk of his power. Now where is humiliation so far? Nowhere.
It is verse 4 where the person who is talking changes from YHWH to someone else quite abruptly. Who is speaking? With there being no one else in the context, it could be Isaiah himself and the power the Almighty gives him, and his resolve to do his master's will.
Because there is nothing explicitly messianic in these verses, it cannot be said to be a messianic text. You would have to believe that Yeshua was messiah and that the accounts of the NT are true concerning his death were true before you could think these verses were messianic, and that would be eisegesis and not exegesis since your conclusions and presuppositions are already in your head before you even look at the text. There is nothing in the verses themselves that would give the impression that they were messianic.
Isa. 52:7...To publish good tidings of peace... Lu. 4:14, 15
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings, that announceth peace, the harbinger of good tidings, that announceth salvation; that saith unto Zion: 'Thy Master reigneth!'
OK, lets see now. Where is the messiah? I wonder if there is a verse in scripture, in the Tanakh, where you don't already have to have the idea that Yeshua is the messiah in order to come to that conclusion. The verse, out of context, can refer to any sign of good news for Israel. I'm sure that's happened quite a number of times during the 700 years between this prophecy and Yeshua's appearance.
By the way, this is not a messianic text.
Isa.
52:13...The Servant exalted...Acts 1:8-11; Eph. 1:19-22
Isa.
52:13...Behold, My Servant... Mt. 17:5; Phil. 2:5-8
Isa.
52:14...The Servant shockingly abused... Lu. 18:31-34; Mt. 26:67, 68
Isa.
52:15...Nations startled by message of the Servant... Rom. 15:18-21
Isa.
52:15...His blood shed to make atonement for all... Rev. 1:5
Isa.
53:1...His people would not believe Him... Jn. 12:37-38
Isa. 53:2a...He would
grow up in a poor family.... Lu.2:7
Isa. 53:2b...Appearance of an ordinary man... Phil. 2:7-8
Isa.
53:3a...Despised.... Lu.
4:28-29
Isa. 53:3b...Rejected...
Mt. 27:21-23
Isa.
53:3c...Great sorrow and grief... Lu. 19:41-42
Isa.
53:3d...Men hide from being associated with Him... Mk. 14:50-52
Isa.
53:4a...He would have a healing ministry... Lu. 6:17-19
Isa.
53:4b...He would bear the sins of the world... 1 Pet. 2:24
Isa.
53:4c...Thought to be cursed by God... Mt. 27:41-43
Isa. 53:5a...Bears
penalty for mankind's transgressions... Lu. 23:33
Isa.
53:5b...His sacrifice would provide peace between man and God... Col. 1:20
Isa.
53:5c...His back would be whipped... Mt. 27:26
Isa.
53:6a...He would be the sin-bearer for all mankind...Gal. 1:4
Isa.
53:6b...God's will that He bear sin for all mankind... 1 Jn. 4:10
Isa.
53:7a...Oppressed and afflicted... Mt. 27:27-31
Isa.
53:7b...Silent before his accusers... Mt. 27:12-14
Isa.
53:7c...Sacrificial lamb... Jn.
1:29
Isa.
53:8a...Confined and persecuted... Mt. 26:47-27:31
Isa. 53:8b...He would be
judged... Jn.
18:13-22
Isa.
53:8c...Killed.... Mt. 27:35
Isa.
53:8d...Dies for the sins of the world... 1 Jn. 2:2
Isa. 53:9a...Buried
in a rich man's grave... Mt. 27:57
Isa.
53:9b...Innocent and had done no violence... Mk. 15:3
Isa.
53:9c...No deceit in his mouth... Jn. 18:38
Isa.
53:10a...God's will that He die for mankind... Jn. 18:11
Isa.
53:10b...An offering for sin... Mt. 20:28
Isa.
53:10c...Resurrected and live forever.... Mk. 16:16
Isa.
53:10d...He would prosper... Jn.
17:1-5
Isa. 53:11a...God fully
satisfied with His suffering... Jn. 12:27
Isa.
53:11b...God's servant... Rom. 5:18-19
Isa.
53:11c...He would justify man before God... Rom. 5:8-9
Isa.
53:11d...The sin-bearer for all mankind... Heb. 9:28
Isa.
53:12a...Exalted by God because of his sacrifice... Mt. 28:18
Isa.
53:12b...He would give up his life to save mankind... Lu. 23:46
Isa.
53:12c...Grouped with criminals... Lu. 23:32
Isa.
53:12d...Sin-bearer for all mankind... 2 Cor. 5:21
Isa.
53:12e...Intercede to God in behalf of mankind... Lu. 23:34
This has happened quite a number of times while going through this list of over 300 supposed messianic prophecies. Sometimes the compiler of this list would make even one verse have numerous prophecies rather than just take the whole verse as one messianic prophecy. It must be to build up the numbers. Anyway, it's here again, where they take one section that's supposed to be messianic and split it into its different parts, like stripping an animal to its chemical components, while still regarding each part as a messianic prophecy. Lets just deal with the suffering servant, shall we?
52:13 Behold, My servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
As has been said before, the servant is repeatedly identified with Israel (Isaiah 41:8,9, 43:10, 44:1,2,21(2x), 45:4, 49:3). It is noticeable that chapter 52 is talking about Israel, and chapter 54 is talking about Israel.
52:14-15 According as many were appalled at thee -- so marred was his visage unlike that of a man, and his form unlike that of the sons of men -- So shall he startle many nations, kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them shall they see, and that which they had not heard shall they perceive.
Because of Israel's humble beginnings and the suffering that it has suffered, not only because of their own sins but also because of the bad treatment by the nations, they don't see him (Israel) as much at all. They'll be surprised and startled at his exaltation. Although some translations try to translate the word translated "startled" as "sprinkled", the parallelism points more towards "startled" to go with the following statement of the kings shutting their mouths.
Isaiah 53:1 Who would have believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of YHWH been revealed?
Now stop a second. All of a sudden the person speaking has become plural ("OUR report"). Who is speaking? It can't be Isaiah, since he's just one guy. Notice the verse before (52:15) where the nations and the kings are startled. Isaiah could be (and most likely, is) talking for the gentile kings who are in shock. This would answer the questions that are given. "Who would believe what we have heard?" No one! "And to whom and the arm of the YHWH been revealed?" To us, the gentile nations, in seeing the prior state and redemption of Israel (52:10)!
Isaiah 53:2-3 For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him. He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Please note that unlike some Christian translations, the verbs are in the past tense. The gentile nations are still speaking. Now Israel was in a humiliated state due to its history and its exile. This was something that had plagued Israel for a long time. He was well acquainted with illness and pain, and the nations thought little of him. The term "man of pain" and "acquainted with illness" isn't talking about a momentary thing, or in an insignificant speck of time in a person's life. It's talking about a prolonged state. For example, a "man of God" is a man who has worshipped and walked with the deity for a lot of his life, not just a couple of seconds or days. A man of the field is not someone who has only been farming for the past couple of days but who has sweated and toiled on the field for a long time. So a "man of pain" cannot refer to just a day or a couple of hours of pain.
Now these verses cannot apply to Yeshua since he was loved and adored by the people, attracted a huge following, almost got crushed by some of the crowds that wanted to touch him, where a woman with an issue of blood could touch the hem of his garment and be made whole, according to the story (Matt 4:25; Luke 2:32; 4:14-15; 7:16; 8:4; John 12:11, 42). He only suffered the last couple of days of his life. Sorry, but this is NOT a man of pain, acquainted with illness. This is a guy who enjoyed the luxury of popularity for most of his ministry, but who got humiliated the last few days of his life, and even then he had a crowd of mourners (Luke 23:27). Only the upper class, and some of the different sects of Judaism in those days didn't like him, but they feared the people, who liked him (Matt 21:46; Mk 12:12, 37). The selection of NT verses given here are not even exhaustive. Also not one day of his life was he sick, even in his death. To be "acquainted with illness" doesn't mean he's like a doctor/healer who sees illnesses and heals them. The flow of the whole statement in 53:3 points to the idea that the servant himself should be experiencing the illness HIMSELF. The nation of Israel could be seen as being ill at times in a figurative sense (which is how this whole section should be seen), dealing with attacks of sin from within and persecution from without.
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of Deity, and afflicted. But he was wounded because of our transgressions; he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his wounds we were healed.
What is meant by the "diseases" and "pains" which the servant carried? What about being wounded because of our iniquities and the rest of the passage? It is the common case which happens when a people are taken captive. They are seen as less, as rubbish, and they get persecuted for their lesser status. The worst thing is that when they are persecuted and bad things happen to them, the nation in dominion will say it's their own fault being punished by their deity. Considering the context of this is the Babylonian exile, I'm not surprised to see the same thought in Jeremiah 50.
Jer 50:6 My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting-place.
Jer 50:7 All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Yahweh, the habitation of righteousness, even Yahweh, the hope of their fathers.
When Israel bore their sins that means that Israel bore their bad actions, the blunt of their sinful actions, the way their persecuted Israel when it was YHWH who had done this for Israel's discipline, not for the nations to take it upon themselves to join in on the "whoop-ass", the beatings. Israel was stricken BECAUSE OF the sins, transgressions, and iniquities of the nations who had taken it captive. The servant of YHWH was not stricken FOR (as in, in the place of) the sins of the nations. The Hebrew says "BECAUSE OF" not "for" or "in the place of". But through the persecution, the nations would be healed by learning about the Deity of the Israelites, YHWH. It's amazing that through the exile, the punishment of Israel, the knowledge of YHWH spread throughout the pagan world, and through the redemption of Israel, the nations would see who really is the Deity of the whole world.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and YHWH hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all.
All of the nations were doing their own thing, and in the exile, the Israelites would have to go through a lot of punishment, both from YHWH and from the iniquities of man.
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth.
This can be paralleled with Psalm 44 where the Israel is compared to sheep to the slaughter. As this is poetry, we cannot take this hyper-literally that they literally couldn't speak, or that every single Israelite acted in such submissive way. But there was a righteous remnant that kept their mouth shut, accepting what YHWH had laid upon them and the judgment of YHWH on the sins of the nations. They were oppressed even though they were humiliated.
Isaiah 53:8-9 By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason? For he was cut off out of the land of the living, because of the transgression of my people the stroke was for them. And they made his grave with the wicked and with the rich his deaths; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.'
Israel was cut off from the land of Israel (cf Ezek 37:11, see context), beaten not only by YHWH but also by the transgressions of men. Righteous and unrighteous were killed or enslaved amongst the nations, although the righteous remnant didn't not deserve it. Understand that the last phrase in this section doesn't mean total spotlessness and sinlessness in the whole of one's life. When someone is proclaimed innocent after a court trial, do you honestly think that means that that person had never committed a wrong in his life?
Also note the Christian claim, "he made his grave with the rich". Is that what the verse says? No. It says they made his grave with the wicked and his deaths [plural] with the rich. Christians have it mixed up. They think he died with the wicked (crucified between two thieves), and had his grave with the rich (the grave owned by Joseph of Arimethea). The actual verse in Isaiah has it the other way round, dying with the rich and buried with the wicked.
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased YHWH to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer restitution [a guilt offering], that he might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the delight of YHWH might prosper by his hand:
Yet YHWH's purpose was to batter his servant, Israel, with this exile to see if they would repent, so that he would restore to them their land and bless their seed, that they may keep the Torah and be a light as he was intended to be.
Understand that the Torah, the books of Moshe, NEVER prescribe human sacrifice. The idea of someone dying for (in the place of) the sins of another is foreign to the Torah concept of individual and collective responsibility for sin (Deut 24:16; Ezek 18:20). YHWH put his servant through all that stress so the servant would return to him in fullness. So Yeshua has nothing to do with this, even though some bibles mistranslate the verse to try to promote a vicarious sacrifice. Yeshua had no seed (literal descendants) and his life wasn't prolonged. The word "ben" (son) would be used for spiritual descendants, which is what the Christians promote, but "zera" (seed, offspring) is only used for literal descendants of which Yeshua had none. Plus, think about it. If Yeshua was YHWH, how can you prolong the life of an eternal being?
Isaiah 53:11-12 Of the travail of his soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and their iniquities he did bear. Therefore will I divide him a portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Israel went through it all, and through its righteousness as a whole, it showed the world YHWH. He bared his soul to death and prayed for the nations, the transgressors (Jer 29:7) even through the persecution and punishment, so he will get a prize. If you read further on, I believe you will see the reward of the servant of YHWH (Isaiah 54:1-3).
I find it hard to come up with how the words "divide him a portion" and "divide the spoil with the might" can apply to Yeshua? How is "All power is given unto me" a portion of anything (Matt 28:18)? Isn't that everything? Everything is not a portion? Doesn't scripture say that the servant will divide the spoil with the mighty? Then what's Yeshua doing sharing his power with the transgressors, sinners? Does that make sense? Well maybe to a Christian it would.
Anyway, after that long and arduous ordeal, I think we can see that Isaiah 52:12-53:12 is not a messianic text. Israel is positively identified as the servant of YHWH and the whole chapter can apply to his situation.
Isa.
55:3...Resurrected by God...
Acts 13:34
Isa. 55:4...A
witness... Jn.
18:37
Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye for water, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your gain for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander to the peoples. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee; because of YHWH thy Deity, and for the Holy One of Israel, for He hath glorified thee.
Is this messianic? Could it be talking about the messianic age? It could be. It speaks of the sure mercies of David, but this is given to all of Israel. It says that a prince and commander to the peoples will be given for a witness. It could be messiah.
The thrust of the context is a message of repentance. Anyway, can any of this refer to Yeshua? Well the missionaries say that verse 3 is talking about the idea that Yeshua was resurrected by the Almighty. But the verse doesn't say that. It says that when Israel repents, then they will live and YHWH will make with them a covenant of sure mercy. It's got nothing to do with resurrection or Yeshua.
They say verse 4 speaks of him being a witness. It speaks of a leader, a ruler, and it speaks of a commander. This man will be a witness to the people. Maybe in his death it could loosely apply to Yeshua, but not really in his life. He ruled nothing when he was on this earth. But I don't think the man who would be the witness would be dead or unseen.
Well this verse could be messianic, and it could apply to Yeshua but it isn't likely.
Isa.
59:15-16a...He would come to provide salvation... Jn. 6:40
Isa.
59:15-16b...Intercessor between man and God... Mt. 10:32
Isa.
59:20...He would come to Zion as their Redeemer... Lu. 2:38
Isaiah 59:14-21 And justice is turned away backward, and righteousness standeth afar off; for truth hath stumbled in the broad place, and uprightness cannot enter. And truth is lacking, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And YHWH saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice; And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him; And He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation upon His head, and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompense. So shall they fear the name of YHWH from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; for distress will come in like a flood, which the breath of YHWH driveth.And a redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith YHWH. And as for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith YHWH; My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith YHWH, from henceforth and for ever.
Lets be consistent with a number of things. Firstly lets ask ourselves if this could possibly messianic. It does speak of a redeemer to come out of Zion. But are the other Christian claims true as well? That messiah would come to provide salvation and be an intercessor between Elohim and man?
Reading the chapter, we see that the Almighty saw the wicked state of the land, and that there was no man to be his spokesman, to execute justice. So what did YHWH do? He did it himself. Remember before there was a definition of the arm of YHWH. It meant his very own power. The next statement is that HIS righteousness sustains him. He is going to make a change. He will take vengeance on his enemies. It could be that "the redeemer" is YHWH himself, as a continuation of the theme of the previous verses (i.e., he [YHWH] will come to Zion [as] a redeemer). He will come for those that have returned to him from transgressions. Notice that the last verse (v.21) talks to Israel as a singular entity. YHWH's spirit will be on them forever.
Did all this happen in Yeshua's time? Does it even apply to Yeshua's time? Was there vengeance? And did Israel have YHWH's spirit forever? I doubt it. Please remember, we are talking about Israel and not gentiles. This prophecy, whether messianic or not, remains unfulfilled.
Isa.
61:1-2a...The Spirit of God upon him... Mt. 3:16-17
Isa. 61:1-2b...The
Messiah would preach the good news... Lu. 4:17-21
Isa.
61:1-2c...Provide freedom from the bondage of sin and death... Jn. 8:31-32
Isa. 61:1-2...Proclaim a
period of grace... Jn.
5:24
Isaiah 61:1-6 The spirit of the Lord YHWH is upon me; because YHWH hath anointed me to bring good tidings unto the humble; He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the eyes to them that are bound; To proclaim the year of YHWH'S good pleasure, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called terebinths of righteousness, the planting of YHWH, wherein He might glory. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall renew the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and aliens shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the priests of YHWH, men shall call you the ministers of our God; ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their splendour shall ye revel.
Who is talking? The verse is unclear about who is speaking, but appears to be Isaiah. There are too few clues in the chapter for it to be anyone else, and there is little reason to think that it is anyone other than the author. That's the logical conclusion. And whom is it being spoken about? It most likely to be Israel because of the phrase "them that mourn in Zion" and comparing the subjects being called "the priests of YHWH" with Exodus 19:5,6, plus the fact that all the other chapters were talking about Israel, both their wickedness and their hope for restoration. Another proof is that in verse 9 it says, "Their seed shall be known among the nations", and verse 11 speaks to "the daughter of Zion". It appears to point to a grand restoration, most likely the messianic era.
If taken literally, and in context (reading on from verse 2) it is yet to be fulfilled, and Yeshua, by no means, fulfilled this. It is noticeable how Yeshua seems to miss out the words "the day of vengeance for our Master" in his little rendition on Luke 4. That didn't fit his life or his ministry or his death.
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