The Hinged Portrait :: By Robert Asher Mandel
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
I am guessing that the majority of readers would be able to recite that verse by heart. And it is wonderful that we can do so, especially at this season of the year. Yes, Isaiah 9:6 is a glorious prophecy of the first advent of the Messiah-King, Jesus Christ! I imagine this verse like a portrait of that holy child held in a hinged portrait frame, attached to a second prophetical picture opposite to it. How many of us can recite the sister verse I am speaking of? We do not have to look far for this second portrait of our awesome Lord. We can find it in the very next verse:
“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
I have been listening to sermons for over 52 years. I have probably heard 10 – 12 messages on Is. 9:6. I have never once heard a pastor speak on verse 7 following. Yet there are only 109 separate and distinct Old Testament prophecies about the first coming of Christ, while there are well over 300 prophecies of His Second coming and His kingdom on Earth!
Back in October of 2016, the Lord helped me to publish a simple photographic presentation of Christ’s Millennial Reign. It is titled, “The Amazing Millennium from A to Z!” You can find it at this link:
(I believe it is still sold for 99 cents, but I will try to make it free by the time this article appears.) I do hope many of you will read it, for I believe it to be the second half of the Christmas story!
In preparing that book, I was thrilled and dazzled as I considered the supernatural beauty and wonder of Christ’s coming kingdom! The sun will shine 7 times more brightly than it does now! The prosperity will be such that not one human on Earth will ever go hungry again! The Prince of Peace will establish peace between all nations and all peoples. There will be only one religion upon Earth: the worship of the One True God!
This Christmas, do read Isaiah 9:6, but then do something different… include verse 7 also in your reading. Remind your family that the Christmas story does not end with the visit of the wise men, nor with the cross, nor even with the ascension.
The baby born that night was a king. The Christmas story ends with the coming of His kingdom here on Earth!
“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end…
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this!”
A blessed Christmas to you all!
Asher Mandel, is53@att.net
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