Isa. 6:9, 10

 

The prophecy of blindness was
uttered in the year that Uzziah died. History says that this is the year in
which Rome was founded. However, there is so much myth connected with this
event that we cannot be sure. Uzziah had a prosperous reign of fifty-two years,
and then died a leper. He had apostatized; the nation had done likewise. The
prophet pronounced the sentence which is repeated on at least three occasions
in the New Testament:Matt. 13:14, 15; John 12:39, 40; Acts 28:26, 27.

 

The prophet asks how long this
blindness is to last. The Lord says till the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled. In round numbers, the time since this was written has been 2500
years, and the time has not come yet for the blindness to be lifted.

 

Here is the awful prophecy:

 

Go, and tell this people,

 

a. Hear ye indeed, but
understand not; and see ye indeed, but

 

perceive not.

 

b. Make the heart of this people
fat, c. and make their ears heavy, d. and shut their eyes; d. lest they see
with their eyes, c. and hear with their ears, b. and understand with their
heart, a. and convert, and be healed.

 

It was not long after this
prophecy was written that Israel went into captivity. Ezekiel tells us of how
the glory of God left the temple. Although the temple was rebuilt under Ezra,
we have no record that the glory of God ever came back.  Neither did Israel have a king. When their King came, they rejected Him and murdered Him. He will be
their next King some day in the future, when He comes again.

 

Now let us consider the New
Testament references to this prophecy.

 

Matt. 13:14, 15. On what
occasion was this uttered? It was on the same day that "the Pharisees went
out, and held a council against Him, how that they might destroy Him"
(12:14). This was His rejection and so was a turning point in the story, as
well as an important dispensational epoch.

 

John 12:39, 40. The Lord had
done many miracles among the people, but they believed not. So the Lord went
away and hid Himself from them so that this prophecy might be fulfilled. Some
of the chief rulers did believe but they were afraid to confess it for fear
that they would be put out of the synagogue. This was fear of the Pharisees.

 

Acts 28:26, 27. The Messiah had
been murdered, but in His last moments He had prayed for the forgiveness of His
people since they were doing it in ignorance. There was a provision in the law
for sins of ignorance. Then the Twelve proclaimed the reoffer of the King and
kingdom to those in the land. Later, Paul and those with him proclaimed the
same message out of the land, even to Gentiles who were grafted in as was
Cornelius with the object of provoking Israel to jealousy, but to no avail. In
the last of Acts Paul spoke to the last group of Jews all day, arguing from the
Scriptures concerning the King and the kingdom. But they could not agree among
themselves. So after all the repeated warnings, these words were said for the
last time. The salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles.