Long before the rise of Babylon Isaiah foretells her character and fall. She aspired to be as Lucifer, and how she reflects Satan her ultimate master, and also Antichrist of the last times. Literal Babylon fell, and so will the culture of the world that she symbolises.

The prophet Isaiah confronts Ahaz, king of Judah, over his pending appeal to Assyria for military aid. The king refuses a sign-miracle, and the coming of Messiah by virgin birth is announced. Here objections are answered and lessons drawn for present day believers.

Healing the bent-over woman in the synagogue, the Lord declares her 'loosed' rather than healed, showing the miracle to be a picture of our release (at conversion) from all the moral and spiritual limitations that bind us away from God. Here is true conversion.

Some believers imagine that Christ speaks to them and even touches them, while others overreact from extreme pietism and think little of Christ's constant presence with them. Here is the Lord's nearness throughout the Bible, and the power of 'seeing Him' with the eye of faith.

Paul commands withdrawal of fellowship from believers who persistently flout the apostles' teachings. One example of disorder is the refusal to work for a living, but here are the key offences that seriously blight Gospel work. Here also is the call to fellowship and harmony.