Isaiah 4

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

December 2, 2021 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

The theme of Isaiah 4 is the aftermath or consequences of the captivity of God's chosen people. Both the world and the visible church today is likewise in an aftermath of captivity. I am sure that many pastors, who love the Lord and desire for maturity of the members of their church would say, "What captivity? I am not in captivity; neither is my church." However, scripture says otherwise. In order to fully understand Isaiah, Chapter 4, we first need to look at Isaiah, Chapter 11. There is room in the economy of God for many things, but I believe that the Lord's primary focus now is the fulfilling of Isaiah, Chapter 11. Let us read Isaiah, Chapter 11.

1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
3 And shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears:
4 But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.

Those first five verses have been fulfilled in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Certainly, Verses 6-16 have not yet been fulfilled. Verse 11 speaks of the second time that the Lord will sovereignly recover the remnant of His people. That Verse says "the remnant of His people," not all born-again believers. There is a difference. Jesus said that in the last days the deception will be so great that "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matthew 24:24). Verse 11 can NOT refer to the restoration after the exile in Babylon which began around 600 B.C. There was NO exile at that time to Egypt, Pathros, or Cush. That verse also says "in that day." Therefore, these events are prophetic of the end times ... the last days. Verse 16 compares this second (and last) recovering of the remnant to the first time when the Lord led His people out of the land of Egypt. Although a great multitude came out of Egypt, only two adults, Joshua and Caleb, actually entered the Promised Land. Verse 16 says there shall be a highway. Many are called but few are chosen (because few choose). The Lord has provided the highway but we have to choose that highway, which is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

The first recovering of His people (out of Egypt) was a natural, historic event, which began about 1491 B.C. The second (and last) recovering of His people will be a spiritual event, which certainly is on the verge of occurring in this hour. This is the time when the modern-day Moses (more than one believer) is beginning to speak to the modern-day Pharaoh to let the people of God go free from our captivity and all of our many bondages. The Church today is in captivity and in bondage to spiritual Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea. Let us consider the significance of those eight names.

Assyria comes from a root word which means successful. The founder of Assyria was Asshur, the second son of Shem. Shem was the chosen line through which Jesus came (Luke 3:36). All of the descendants of Shem, except for the direct line of Jesus, represent the religious system. Noah prophesied, "Blessed be the Lord God of Shem" (Genesis 9:26). Note that Noah did NOT prophesy, "Blessed be Shem." He said, "Blessed be the Lord God" who is to come through Shem. The religious system of today ASSUMES, in error, that they are automatically blessed of the Lord.

The religious line of Shem is further borne out by Genesis 14 with the war between the four "good kings" and the five "bad kings." Genesis 14 is packed with much prophetic significance. The Assyrians worshipped Asshur, the man who founded Assyria. So the spiritual bondage for the Church today that is represented by Assyria includes (in addition to success, money, power, and the "good" religious system) the idolization of a man, even a godly man. Some churches today almost idolize William Branham, who was indeed a great prophet of the Lord for a season. There are also groups today who almost idolize Witness Lee.

Natural Egypt was a polytheistic, well-educated nation. The Egyptians created the pyramids and sphinxes, some remarkable architectural accomplishments for their day. Scriptures speak of the "wisdom of Egypt" (Acts 7:22), the "treasures of Egypt" (Hebrews 11:26), and "the pleasures of sin" (Hebrews 11:25) associated with Egypt. Apparently, the Egyptians also had delicious-tasting food because the Israelites murmured after that good food when they were wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Therefore, the spiritual bondages represented by Egypt for the Church today are education or the wisdom of man, food, financial treasures, the religious system, technology, and the many pleasures of sin, such as illicit sex, which has brought down too many believers and sadly leaders also. The industrial revolution has tended to make man physically lazy; the computer revolution has tended to make man intellectually lazy; and all of the Christian books, tapes, DVDs, conferences, etc. have tended to make man spiritually lazy.

Pathros was part or all of "Upper Egypt," extending from South of modern-day Cairo, to the First Cataract on the Nile River. Pathrusim (meaning persuasion of ruin), from whom came inhabitants of Pathros, was the fifth son of Mizraim. Soon after the great flood of Noah's day, Egypt was founded by Mizraim, the second son of Ham. Mizraim means tribulations or fortresses. In addition to the bondages which Egypt represent, as above, Pathros inflicts tribulation on believers. Fortresses (walled cities in the Old Testament) are man's way to protect himself, but man's best efforts fail.

Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. Zechariah 2:4 

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7

Cush means black or Ethiopia. Cush was the youngest son of Ham. The bondage represented by Cush has no relationship whatsoever to the color of one's skin! Ham also means dark. The sin of Ham is recorded in Genesis 9:21-25. Ham saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers about it. Without any doubt, Ham's act was a manifestation of an impure heart. Perhaps he had always been a filthy dreamer.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Jude 7, 8

Because the imagination of our (natural) heart is evil (Genesis 8:21), we are all the sons of Ham in a sense until we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus and are found in Him.

There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10

The root cause of the sin of Ham was passed on, generationally, to his youngest son, Cush. The bondage represented by Cush is the blackness of the heart and imagination. That is why Paul wrote,

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Elam, which means youth or high, was the first son of Shem. As such, Elam also represents the bondage of the "good" religious system of the world today. Elam was also the predominant ruling power in the time of Abraham (Genesis 14:1 and 14:4). We believe that Elam spiritually represents the mixture of the political and religious systems today. There are many Christians today who still believe that Christians should get more involved in the politics of the United States. Their reasoning is that by getting into high places in the political system, Christians can change politics for the better and "clean up" democracy. That reasoning is NOT according to the ways of the Lord. In actuality, the system pollutes the Christian. The first recorded war in the Bible was between four "good" kings and five "bad" kings" (Genesis 14). Clearly, Abraham was part of NEITHER! For further "proof" please read Joshua 5:13-15. In addition, the Lord never will "clean up" democracy, which is a government by man. Democracy is perhaps the best that the world has to offer but the government of God is a theocracy, not a democracy. Unfortunately, some Christian groups, including the house church of which we were a part for twelve years, have tried to function on a democratic basis. This kind of bondage is all throughout the Church today. Bible "studies" frequently are "I think this" and "someone else thinks that" and another person thinks something else ... majority wins!

Shinar was another part of the "good" religious system (Genesis 14:1). Amraphel, the king of Shinar, has been identified historically to be Hammurabi, who devised an excellent "worldly" code of law and justice. There are many similarities between the Hammurabi code and the law as given through Moses. Guess which of the two is true and which is false. The significance of Shinar can be seen from Genesis 11:1-4.

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Those verses represent the attempt of man to bring about unity through our own natural efforts. It will never happen ... God will never allow it. So this is related to the false ecumenical "movement." The first part of Verse 3 represents the haste of man to bring about what man calls "good." They wanted to hurry up the brick-making process by burning them. The normal procedure for making brick was to allow the sun to dry them. We need to allow the Son to bring about what He wants, in His time. One of the greatest lacks in Christians is patience. The second part of Verse 3 represents substitutes... brick for stone and slime for mortar. The first part of Verse 4 represents man's attempt to get to Heaven through good works, not through faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. The second part of Verse 4, "let us make us a name," is ever present in all levels of the Church. Finally, "lest we be scattered abroad" represents inbreeding or huddling together. This bondage is reflected today in the form of mega-churches, with so many programs and building structures that support the activities and needs of all age groups. This also reflects a false sense of security through large numbers of people. Safety or security through numbers is another lie of the enemy. Back in the "hey day" of the house church of which we were a part for twelve years, there was an implied "doctrine" that our individual "covering" was the local body. One day in the late 1970's the Lord said, "Not so," and gave a good scripture from Isaiah 22:8 and 11, to back it up.

8 And He discovered [or uncovered or removed or revealed] the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest [the body of Christ].
11 Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect unto Him that fashioned it long ago.

Our covering is our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. We can submit to a local body without being submissive to the Lord. But it is not possible to truly submit to the Lord Jesus Christ without at the same time submitting to the authority that the Lord arranges for our good.

Hamath means fortification, walled, or a wall of separation. They were descendants of Ham and Canaan (Genesis 10:18). The huge, all-inclusive mega-churches of today are almost a walled city within a city. The "store cities," which Solomon built in Hamath (2 Chronicles 8:4), were probably places to store staples for trade. Therefore, the significance of Hamath for today is not only self-sufficient separation (closed ministries) but also man's attempt at self-preservation through storing up food and water. This includes setting up Christian "communities." Quite a large number of non-believers and even some sincere believers tell us to store up three-to-six months' worth of food and water for the difficult days that are surely coming. What are you going to do for the many months and years after that supply runs out? When the Jews coming out of Egypt for 40 years tried to save the daily manna for another day, it would rot, stink, and breed worms. If the Lord tells you to store up food for others (as He told Joseph), then well and good. But if anyone selfishly stores up food for himself and his family, it will rot. We Christians need to have the word made real in our hearts that,

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Concerning the islands of the sea, the sea normally speaks of the sea of humanity. Islands are completely surrounded by the sea. Christians are to be IN the world but not part OF the world (John 15:19). This bondage may well be akin to the peer pressure of the world, which all the elders of Israel succumbed to when they told Samuel to "make us a king to judge us like all the nations" (1 Samuel 8:5). This pull and infiltration of the ways of the world into Christianity produces a polluted mixture which is never acceptable by God; it becomes strange fire. This is a very strong bondage from which we Christians must be set free.

In summary, when the Lord sovereignly recovered the remnant the FIRST time (from the bondage and captivity of Egypt) there was only ONE captor ... Egypt. When the Lord sovereignly recovers the remnant of His people (spiritual Jerusalem) the SECOND time, in these last days, there are EIGHT captors, as listed above. The Church today is in various degrees of bondage to money, success, education, the wisdom of this world, entertainment, all the pleasures of this world, food, sex, politics, mixture and impurities of all kinds, the desire to make us a name, fleshly attempts to bring about the kingdom of God on earth, desires to be like the world, vain imaginations, traditions of men, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof, and being lukewarm. Nothing has changed in 6000 years. The nature of man has never changed. The Revelation of John, given to him by the Lord, includes the following unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans:

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

The sad part is that we Christians, at every level, do not see the bondage and captivity that we are in. Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years and never made one convert. No one ever believed Jeremiah concerning the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the exile. Some today may see and heed the Lord's warning. Some today may not see, may not agree, and may even get angry. If anyone gets angry, then that is GOOD! I remember the time, about 54 years ago, just before the Lord apprehended me, when I heard that some people in the Methodist Church we were attending were doing some "funny things" like "speaking in tongues." I can never remember a time when I was so angry. I was furious! I told my wife, "If they want to do funny things like that then they should get out of the church!" Not long after that, I was doing those SAME "funny things." Jesus said, "I came not to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

Only the Spirit of God can shed His light and dispel the darkness. We all need to ask the Holy Spirit to shed His light into our heart concerning these subtle and hidden captivities that hinder the fulfillment of His eternal purposes for Himself within and through us. The question is, do we want to be part of the problem (those who need to be recovered from the snares of the enemy) or part of the solution (those who will be deliverers in these end times) as foretold in Obadiah 21? "And saviours [or deliverers] shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's." It is not enough just to "Come out of her, My people." This word reflects an all-consuming burden that the Body of Christ might come into that full measure of spiritual maturity that delights and satisfies the heart of God ... Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Now let us turn to Isaiah, Chapter 4.

1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

The first word, "and," links this verse to Chapter 3, particularly Verses 25 and 26, which say, "Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground." Further, from Isaiah 4:1, "in that day" awaits a final fulfillment.

War will severely reduce the male population. There will not be enough men to go around for all the women. Women without husbands were/are socially vulnerable. They will experience the double disgrace of being widows and childless. Thus seven women will beg a single man to make them his wives. He will not even need to provide their food and clothing, which is mandated even for unloved secondary wives in Exodus 21:10, which says, "If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish." 

On Thursday, November 18, 2021, I received an email from a brother who lives in New Zealand. The title of the email is "Where Are the Men?" (I quote ...)

Rodney Francis writes:

"In my travels around the world I continually notice in Christian meetings the shortage of MEN! While putting this article together, I spoke in a church I had not been to before, and could not help but notice the shortage of men in the meeting. So I counted up the adults - and the women outnumbered the men seven to one!"

"Men always seem to be in the minority. I remember a number of years ago reading the statistics of people on the mission fields of the world. It was a staggering sixteen women to every one man! This does not seem to be right, nor is it God's will that more and more responsibility for the proclaiming of the Gospel should be upon the women. But we do have to ask, "WHERE are the MEN?'' 

Tom Whitestone writes:

"Some people believe there has been a kind of "feminizing" of the church, so that many men don't feel comfortable getting involved. Too much wishy-washy music, tugging at the heart-strings, and softly-softly preaching. Is there a revolution coming where this is going to change?"

"The "feminizing" is not specifically of the church but the spirit within the church. From my experience speaking with other men, I have found them to be oppressed by the very spirit of "love" within the "church" that has disguised itself as the Spirit of Love. The church has become a habitation of unclean spirits and this has darkened the Gospel that was given by Holy men of God. The spirit that has infiltrated the "church" has caused many men who are "real men" to be repulsed by its presence." (end quotes)

However, my question is, "Are there other reasons why women have increasingly assumed leadership positions in the modern-day church as well as in the world?"

Back in our New Testament house church days in the 1970's, the wives of several of the elders were very vocal in our gatherings. At the same time, their husbands, who were designated elders, said very little. Now my wife will share with you part of her testimony.

In the early days in our Christian church fellowship, I was more vocal; Bob was more quiet.

Then all I can say is that the Lord opened my eyes to see my help meet ministry. He lit a fire within me and it burned brighter and brighter. The Lord began teaching me. Just as it is written about Lydia in Acts 16, the Lord opened my heart to respond to the things spoken by Him. The Lord gave me a sure word from 1 Thessalonians 1:8, "you [Linda] have no need to say anything." However, in that environment of quietness the Lord had much work to do within me.

No man taught me about my ministry to my husband and I never read any book but the Bible. When we don't know anything about some area, we are very teachable by the Lord. We don't have to unlearn anything.

And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord began to show me His call upon my husband and that He desired to use me as His primary vessel to bring forth His ministry within my husband. The Lord, over the years, has revealed a number of spiritual truths to me through gardening, which I dearly love. He showed me that I was like a garden hose. The garden hose has to be connected to the water source in order to be used to water plants and shrubs. The Source is the Lord; I was the garden hose; and I was to be used by the Lord to pour forth spiritual water to my husband.

Whatever the Lord would show me, I would pray fervently, intercede, and groan in the spirit that the Lord's purpose for Bob might come forth. I made a conscious decision that my words, manner, and behavior would line up with what the Lord revealed. At church meetings I changed drastically and became quiet in order for Bob to come forth, while praying fervently for him. I was NOT passive. I was very active in my quietness. I did not become quiet because I had no truth to share but because I saw a principle that was MORE important than my sharing some truth. I saw that it was more important for Bob to come into maturity in the Lord than for me to share some truth. I had been allowed to see the help meet ministry of a wife to her husband.

My drastic change caused quite a stir in the local church environment. Others in the church saw that I became very quiet during the formal meetings. Many felt that I was in bondage and/or manipulated by my husband. One out-of-town leader, after hearing rumors, called me "stiff-necked" in the most gentle way he could. However, I never tried to defend myself for I knew what the Lord had made real in my heart... a higher way.

[I, Bob, would like to interject at this point. One reason why Linda was misunderstood was because of the "oneness ministry" which was yet to be revealed to us, but which, nevertheless was in operation even though neither of us knew it. One of the first prophetic words I, Bob, ever received from a mature ministry was that I would be greatly misunderstood. So because I was greatly misunderstood, so was Linda, for we are one in God's sight! Another reason that Linda was misunderstood MAY have been caused by an over-emphasis of an incorrect interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14:26, which was liberally taught that when we come together EVERYONE should have something to say. That is NOT what Paul is saying in that verse! Every member of the body is NOT a mouth during (or after) the assembly! The man who spoke the hard word about Linda being "stiff-necked" was never around to see our normal meetings. He simply took someone's word about her as being true, without ever bothering to come and ask us our version. That kind of action, which we have seen far too many times, is a BIG mistake! The scriptural approach if you believe something is amiss is to go to your brother FIRST, privately, and ASK whether or not things you have heard are true.] Back to Linda's testimony.

The result of my actions? the Lord honored His word and Bob began to come forth. At some point the Lord showed Bob what He was about through me. Then Bob, being greatly impressed, began teaching about a woman's help meet ministry.

In March of 1973 the Lord also opened up a scripture to me concerning the end times in which we now live.

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 

Matthew 24:19

Most Christians probably interpret that verse in the natural realm. It is certainly true that a pregnant woman or a woman with a small child will experience great difficulty in those days of great tribulation that Jesus spoke about. But the Lord revealed to me the spiritual significance of that verse. Woe unto the Christian wife in those days whose husband has not yet been birthed into Christ or who is an immature babe in Christ, for he will be unable to provide the proper spiritual covering for his wife.

I also longed for my husband to love me as Christ loves the Church. I told the Lord early on that I did not want anything from my husband unless it was born of the Spirit. Therefore, I did not talk about my needs with my husband. Instead, I would run weeping to the throne of grace.

Until the day dawned and the day star arose in my husband's heart in this area, the Lord ministered to my every need. He became all things to me that my husband, at that time, could not give me. He is our Provision. He is our all. We never lack for anything! During my most difficult times, some verses that gave me much strength were the following:

The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. Psalm 138:8

The end of the matter is better than the beginning. Ecclesiastes 7:8

After a long period of waiting, I never thought that my husband would ever even begin to love me as Christ loves the Church. However, the Lord is faithful! The first book my husband wrote is called, "The Love of a Man for His Wife." Both he and I thought he would be the last person to write such a book. But nothing is impossible with God! (end of Linda's testimony) 

Ruth 4:11, "And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:" Rachel and Leah did not build the house of Israel with hammer and nails. Neither did they build that house by their wonderful teaching and preaching. They built the house of Israel by their intercession for Jacob until God transformed Jacob into Israel. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Amen.