The Ascension of Isaiah - Chapter 1

One of the Hezekiah's seals found in Ophel excavations by Eilat Mazar. The bulla measures just over a centimeter in diameter bears a seal impression depicting a two-winged sun disk flanked by ankh symbols and containing a Hebrew inscription that reads “Belonging to Hezekiah, (son of) Ahaz, king of Judah.”

The Ascension of Isaiah - Chapter 1

The Ascension of Isaiah is a composite work of very great interest. In its present form we cannot be sure that it existed earlier than the latter half of the second century of our era. Its various constituents, however, and of these there were
three, circulated independently as early as the first century. These were the martyrdom of Isaiah, the Vision of Isaiah, and the Testament of Hezekiah. The first of these was of Jewish origin, and is of less interest here than the other two, which were the work of Christian writers. ~ R. H. CHARLES, D.D. PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL GREEK, TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN


With respect to Charles, D.D. Professor, let's take a look, starting in chapter 1 with a prayer and and an open heart.

CHAPTER 1 - source

AND it came to pass in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Hezediah king of Judah that he called Manasseh his son. Now he was his only one.

2. And he called him into the presence of Isaiah the son of Amoz the prophet, and into the presence of Josab the son of Isaiah, in order to deliver unto him the words of righteousness which the king himself had seen:

3. And of the eternal judgments and torments of Gehenna, and of the prince of this world, and of his angels, and his authorities and his powers.

4. And the words of the faith of the Beloved which he himself had seen in the fifteenth year of his reign during his illness.

The words of Righteousness. The word of the faith of the Beloved. Righteousness, the antithesis of sin, is the prime key word of the Davidic Servant who is the Angel of the Lord who is the Holy Ghost. Beloved, is the covenant. The Davidic Covenant. The Beloved Covenant is how Gods are made worlds without end. I will be his father. He shall be my son. Jesus came as an obedient Son doing the will and works of His Father.

What were the ends of the Father's works if not to bestow upon the Father his very title, "Father?" Doing the same works will yield the same result. How has this been a mystery for so long? The Holy Ghost is a servant - that title is assigned to him throughout the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah. A servant becomes a Son. Jehovah is the giver of the covenant and the servant is the recipient - hence the future tense, "will be" / "shall be." I will be his Father. He shall be my son. Which is the Beloved? Yes. Beloved Fathers and Sons worlds without end.

5. And he delivered unto him the written words which Samnas the scribe had written, and also those which Isaiah, the son of Amoz, had given to him, and also to the prophets, that they might write and store up with him what he himself had seen in the king's house regarding the judgment of the angels, and the destruction of this world, and regarding the garments of the saints and their going forth, and regarding their transformation and the persecution and ascension of the Beloved.

See how knowing the title "Beloved" applies to both the giver and receiver of the Davidic Covenant helps unlock this mystery? Ascension of "the Beloved" could be a reference to the meridian of time--yet far more likely is the context of the end times. Jesus does not ascend at the end - but His servant does. David means "Beloved" after all.

3 Nephi 20:43 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
44 As many were astonished at thee—his visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—
45 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him, for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

6. In the twentieth year of the reign of Hezekiah, Isaiah had seen the words of this prophecy and had delivered them to Josab his son. And whilst he (Hezekiah) gave commands, Josab the son of Isaiah standing by.

7. Isaiah said to Hezekiah the king, but not in the presence of Manasseh only did he say unto him: `As the Lord liveth, and the Spirit which speaketh in me liveth, all these commands and these words will be made of none effect by Manasseh thy son, and through the agency of his hands I shall depart mid the torture of my body.

8. And Sammael Malchira will serve Manasseh, and execute all his desire, and he will become a follower of Beliar rather than of me:

9. And many in Jerusalem and in Judea he will cause to abandon the true faith, and Beliar will dwell in Manasseh, and by his hands I shall be sawn asunder.'

Isaiah prophesies of his fate at the hands of the son Mannaseh to the father Hezekiah. To know such a fate ahead of time and to face it and embrace reflects  the spiritual fortitude of Isaiah.

10. And when Hezekiah heard these words he wept very bitterly, and rent his garments, and placed earth upon his head, and fell on his face.

11. And Isaiah said unto him: `The counsel of Sammael against Manasseh is consummated: nought will avail thee."

This "consummation" of a sealed fate is extremely interesting. Hezekiah reacts as many righteous would in such a situation:

12. And on that day Hezekiah resolved in his heart to slay Manasseh his son.

13. And Isaiah said to Hezekiah: `The Beloved hath made of none effect thy design, and the purpose of thy heart will not be accomplished, for with this calling have I been called and I shall inherit the heritage of the Beloved.'

The heritage of the Beloved. The beloved covenant. Proxy salvation. Suffering. Martyrdom. Such is often the fate of the prophets and Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.