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Isaiah Decoded
Hitherto unseen literary evidence reveals a new dimension to Isaiah s prophecy that uses Israel s ancient history as an allegory of an end-time scenario.
Isaiah s Hebrew gospel preempts the New Testament by teaching the path through which God empowers his children to ascent to the highest heaven.
Isaiah s Hebrew gospel preempts the New Testament by teaching the path through which God empowers his children to ascent to the highest heaven.
- GenresLdsReligionNonfiction
357 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2012
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September 5, 2016
Summary:
Avraham Gileadi is a Hebrew scholar who has dedicated the last 30+ years to the study of the book of Isaiah. His study has yielded an interpretation different than the standard LDS view on various verses. This book is more of a summation of Gileadi's other book, "The Literary Message of Isaiah", which is a much more technical read according to my understanding (I have not yet read that book).
The main premises of Isaiah Decoded are as follows:
1. The Jews maintain through their tradition that the Hebrew method of prophesying includes using events, places, persons, and things at the present time of the prophet as types and shadows of the end time. In other words, Isaiah's prophecy includes descriptions of his time as well as the end time. Similar thing as with other ancient Hebrew prophets like Ezekiel. Gileadi interprets Isaiah and provides literary evidence (some in this book, but mostly in his others) to support this conclusion.
2. Isaiah has a seven part literary structure that describes spiritual levels of the people on the earth.
a. Perdition - those that are lost and will be subject to the pit of dissolution. I.e. those that reject Christ completely.
b. Babylon - Those that are of the world. This is the general condition of the world in which we live.
c. Jacob/Israel - You could consider this category to represent most of the membership of the LDS church and other churches, i.e. your average god fearing person. These are people that will either descend to Babylon or Ascend to the Zion/Jerusalem level during the tribulations of the end times. This category will disappear during the end time sifting process.
d. Zion/Jerusalem - Gileadi didn't say this, but I would consider this category of people include those that have been born again and have receive the baptism of fire from the Holy Ghost. Gileadi mentions that these are they who will make it through the Millennium, but they are not yet qualified to see God face to face. All levels below this level are destroyed at the coming of Christ.
e. Son/servant level - These are they who have received an unconditional promise of exaltation. The see and talk with God face to face. According to my understanding these are they who have had their calling and election made sure and most likely the Second Comforter. These receive throne theophanies, but not wide expansive visions from the beginning to the end.
f. Seraph - The highest level attainable in mortality. These are those such as Enoch and Elijah who receive wide expansive visions from the beginning to the end. They could also be qualified to receive the gift of translation. A good description of these individuals is found in JST Genesis 14:30-32
g. God of Israel- Jehovah/Jesus Christ
3. Ascending levels requires a descent phase in order to pass the test of loyalty to God. The ultimate example of this is Christ who descending below all things before he ascended to the throne of his father.
4. The king of Assyria is the book of Isaiah is a type and shadow of an end-time Arch-tyrant who will (with his coalition of nations) will try to conquer the world.
5. An end-time servant will be raised up to be put in defiance of the Arch-tyrant, and will help prepare the people of God and the Earth to receive Christ.
6. Isaiah describes the Emperor (God) and vassal (servant) relationship with all those who ascend to the level of a vassal or a proxy savior. The emperor protects the vassal king and his people as long as the vassal king is loyal to the emperor and the vassal king's people are loyal to him.
7. All those on higher levels minister to those on lower levels to help them ascend. This is why no one is inherently better than anyone else. The only difference between individuals is how quickly they ascend, or if they chose to descend to the lower levels. God recreates individuals with each ascent of a level. They also receive a new prophetic mission and name with each ascension, e.g., Jacob was renamed by God to Israel and Abram was renamed to Abraham.
8. A very interesting part of the book and perhaps the most applicable to us in the near future is the discussion that the end time tribulations (calamities/natural disasters, and desolations caused by the Arch-tyrant)will provide an opportunity of descent, which is essentially an opportunity of ascent. You can't ascend without being tried and testing during an descent phase. Thus, the coming tribulations could be considered a wonderful opportunity to ascend levels, if we are properly prepared to receive them as such.
9. The book also discusses something that we do not like to talk about much, which is modern day idolatry. Gileadi's other book "The Last Days" (Deseret Book version) probably has a much better discussion of the topic, but essentially anything we put between us an God can be considered an idol. When you start to examine your life, you realize that it's full of idols. We think we are better and so much more enlightened than the ancient idolaters, but upon careful reflection, it might be the other way around.
Conclusion
Overall a somewhat technical but fantastic read. I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to search deeper into the mysteries of God. Many things in this book require the reader to ponder and pray about what is being presented. Again, perhaps the most important thing presented in this book is that we too can ascend levels just like Abraham, just like Elijah, just like Enoch, just like Nephi. The way is open to all and we are free to choose.
Avraham Gileadi is a Hebrew scholar who has dedicated the last 30+ years to the study of the book of Isaiah. His study has yielded an interpretation different than the standard LDS view on various verses. This book is more of a summation of Gileadi's other book, "The Literary Message of Isaiah", which is a much more technical read according to my understanding (I have not yet read that book).
The main premises of Isaiah Decoded are as follows:
1. The Jews maintain through their tradition that the Hebrew method of prophesying includes using events, places, persons, and things at the present time of the prophet as types and shadows of the end time. In other words, Isaiah's prophecy includes descriptions of his time as well as the end time. Similar thing as with other ancient Hebrew prophets like Ezekiel. Gileadi interprets Isaiah and provides literary evidence (some in this book, but mostly in his others) to support this conclusion.
2. Isaiah has a seven part literary structure that describes spiritual levels of the people on the earth.
a. Perdition - those that are lost and will be subject to the pit of dissolution. I.e. those that reject Christ completely.
b. Babylon - Those that are of the world. This is the general condition of the world in which we live.
c. Jacob/Israel - You could consider this category to represent most of the membership of the LDS church and other churches, i.e. your average god fearing person. These are people that will either descend to Babylon or Ascend to the Zion/Jerusalem level during the tribulations of the end times. This category will disappear during the end time sifting process.
d. Zion/Jerusalem - Gileadi didn't say this, but I would consider this category of people include those that have been born again and have receive the baptism of fire from the Holy Ghost. Gileadi mentions that these are they who will make it through the Millennium, but they are not yet qualified to see God face to face. All levels below this level are destroyed at the coming of Christ.
e. Son/servant level - These are they who have received an unconditional promise of exaltation. The see and talk with God face to face. According to my understanding these are they who have had their calling and election made sure and most likely the Second Comforter. These receive throne theophanies, but not wide expansive visions from the beginning to the end.
f. Seraph - The highest level attainable in mortality. These are those such as Enoch and Elijah who receive wide expansive visions from the beginning to the end. They could also be qualified to receive the gift of translation. A good description of these individuals is found in JST Genesis 14:30-32
g. God of Israel- Jehovah/Jesus Christ
3. Ascending levels requires a descent phase in order to pass the test of loyalty to God. The ultimate example of this is Christ who descending below all things before he ascended to the throne of his father.
4. The king of Assyria is the book of Isaiah is a type and shadow of an end-time Arch-tyrant who will (with his coalition of nations) will try to conquer the world.
5. An end-time servant will be raised up to be put in defiance of the Arch-tyrant, and will help prepare the people of God and the Earth to receive Christ.
6. Isaiah describes the Emperor (God) and vassal (servant) relationship with all those who ascend to the level of a vassal or a proxy savior. The emperor protects the vassal king and his people as long as the vassal king is loyal to the emperor and the vassal king's people are loyal to him.
7. All those on higher levels minister to those on lower levels to help them ascend. This is why no one is inherently better than anyone else. The only difference between individuals is how quickly they ascend, or if they chose to descend to the lower levels. God recreates individuals with each ascent of a level. They also receive a new prophetic mission and name with each ascension, e.g., Jacob was renamed by God to Israel and Abram was renamed to Abraham.
8. A very interesting part of the book and perhaps the most applicable to us in the near future is the discussion that the end time tribulations (calamities/natural disasters, and desolations caused by the Arch-tyrant)will provide an opportunity of descent, which is essentially an opportunity of ascent. You can't ascend without being tried and testing during an descent phase. Thus, the coming tribulations could be considered a wonderful opportunity to ascend levels, if we are properly prepared to receive them as such.
9. The book also discusses something that we do not like to talk about much, which is modern day idolatry. Gileadi's other book "The Last Days" (Deseret Book version) probably has a much better discussion of the topic, but essentially anything we put between us an God can be considered an idol. When you start to examine your life, you realize that it's full of idols. We think we are better and so much more enlightened than the ancient idolaters, but upon careful reflection, it might be the other way around.
Conclusion
Overall a somewhat technical but fantastic read. I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to search deeper into the mysteries of God. Many things in this book require the reader to ponder and pray about what is being presented. Again, perhaps the most important thing presented in this book is that we too can ascend levels just like Abraham, just like Elijah, just like Enoch, just like Nephi. The way is open to all and we are free to choose.
October 17, 2018
Avraham Gileadi was an orthodox Jew who converted to Christianity - specifically: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He took Christ's admonition to search the words of Isaiah to a whole new level by translating Isaiah from the Hebrew text and commenting on it based on his understanding of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was an interesting read and had insights into Isaiah's writings which I had never thought about before. It was truly enlightening. It is not a fast read and probably worth reading once more with the 'King James' in hand so verses can be compared side by side. Language changes over the years and I am sure both the Hebrew version and the King James version have taken on different meanings through the years. This book helps smooth out some confusing passages by giving Hebrew context to the book. This book should not replace one's own study of Isaiah but would be a good supplement for further research.
January 28, 2021
I love the words of Isaiah!
He’s hard to understand but this commentary is a great read. There are so many blessings taught in this book!
He’s hard to understand but this commentary is a great read. There are so many blessings taught in this book!
December 15, 2020
I would give this book 10 stars if I could! It was paradigm changing for me. Some concepts blew my mind. It solidified some truths I already believed and opened my eyes to new truths. The insight he gave has changed the way I see God, me, and the purpose of our existence in a beautiful new way. Thank you Isaiah! Thank you Brother Gileadi.
August 12, 2024
I'm giving it a generous three stars, because it had its moments of insight. However, the book is poorly written. I should have been forewarned. I watched an interview in which Gileadi boasted about how he had discovered this amazing structure in Isaiah that shows it was written by a single author. When questioned about this structure, Gileadi merely continued to boast, saying that it took him decades of careful study to uncover what scholars had never seen. I got the book hoping it would make things clearer. It did not.
The book is repetitious to the point of dullness. Each section must reiterate the major points ad nauseam. The author has a chart at the beginning showing how Isaiah has an overall scheme that reveals a seven part structure. Yet, in the seven chapters in which he expounds seven parts, the parts are unrelated to the seven part structure he has outlined! In fact, he has created a different structure that takes us up the rungs of Jacob's Ladder, from Babylon up to Jehovah.
I'm a fairly astute reader, but this author never makes clear how one structure applies to the other except by making reference to the Hero's Journey (though he identifies it with the Egyptian mythic structure). The Hero's Journey is a cycle in which the Hero descends into chaos/death and returns again to order/life. This is what the author lays out in the beginning as Isaiah's seven part structure. Then he proceeds to take us up Jacob's Ladder rung by rung in a linear fashion. He may be implying that each step up the rung involves struggle, but there is no actual descent involved. These are two potent models, or mythic structures, but the connection between them is never made clear by this author. Gileadi could have used a much more assertive editor, who may have helped him make his point(s) more explicit.
The book is repetitious to the point of dullness. Each section must reiterate the major points ad nauseam. The author has a chart at the beginning showing how Isaiah has an overall scheme that reveals a seven part structure. Yet, in the seven chapters in which he expounds seven parts, the parts are unrelated to the seven part structure he has outlined! In fact, he has created a different structure that takes us up the rungs of Jacob's Ladder, from Babylon up to Jehovah.
I'm a fairly astute reader, but this author never makes clear how one structure applies to the other except by making reference to the Hero's Journey (though he identifies it with the Egyptian mythic structure). The Hero's Journey is a cycle in which the Hero descends into chaos/death and returns again to order/life. This is what the author lays out in the beginning as Isaiah's seven part structure. Then he proceeds to take us up Jacob's Ladder rung by rung in a linear fashion. He may be implying that each step up the rung involves struggle, but there is no actual descent involved. These are two potent models, or mythic structures, but the connection between them is never made clear by this author. Gileadi could have used a much more assertive editor, who may have helped him make his point(s) more explicit.
June 19, 2018
This book was great- lots of information! Gileadi certainly has a perspective on Isaiah that is much, much deeper than mine! I read the first half of this book more quickly than the second. Partly because of my schedule and partly because it was easier for me to understand. It looks at Isaiah in a very different way and helped me to understand some of its broader, continuing themes giving me a better overall understanding. I am hoping that even if I don’t often understand while I am reading Isaiah that I will better comprehend its themes and revelations and how they relate to the gospel as a whole. Very insightful!
September 16, 2022
Avraham Gileadi is the go-to for understanding Isaiah. He has cracked the code, if there ever was a code to be cracked.
I had the privilege of attending some classes taught by him while I was still in Washington. He is the real deal.
To understand Isaiah, one has to understand the literary devices and structure that he used. Avraham's book, and Isaiah's for that matter, are books that have intimidated me for far too long. I listened to this one, but it needs to be read and studied. I sometimes do better to listen first, then dive in with a more detained study. That is what I plan to do here to help cement it in.
I had the privilege of attending some classes taught by him while I was still in Washington. He is the real deal.
To understand Isaiah, one has to understand the literary devices and structure that he used. Avraham's book, and Isaiah's for that matter, are books that have intimidated me for far too long. I listened to this one, but it needs to be read and studied. I sometimes do better to listen first, then dive in with a more detained study. That is what I plan to do here to help cement it in.
September 11, 2018
Climbing up the ladder.
Finding wisdom and the desire to love and give more. Staying true and faithful to the covenants I have made with my Father are so important to me. My desire to ascend to be in the presence of deity with ancestors and my posterity truly would be the reward for Ascending the Ladder to Heaven.
Finding wisdom and the desire to love and give more. Staying true and faithful to the covenants I have made with my Father are so important to me. My desire to ascend to be in the presence of deity with ancestors and my posterity truly would be the reward for Ascending the Ladder to Heaven.
October 7, 2021
Good in some ways
I liked this book in some ways, such as the author's optimism and faith in regards to trusting God. The reason I struggled at times throughout the book though was that the author often made assertions that he said he got from the book of Isaiah, but there didn't seem to be as many scriptural citations for the said assertions
I liked this book in some ways, such as the author's optimism and faith in regards to trusting God. The reason I struggled at times throughout the book though was that the author often made assertions that he said he got from the book of Isaiah, but there didn't seem to be as many scriptural citations for the said assertions
January 20, 2024
The most helpful book I've ever read in understanding the scriptures, especially Isaiah.
I see the scriptures, the gospel, and the world differently now.
Challenged me in multiple ways to evaluate my conceptions of truth.
I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to peel back the layers a bit.
I'll be reading more from Avraham Gileadi.
I see the scriptures, the gospel, and the world differently now.
Challenged me in multiple ways to evaluate my conceptions of truth.
I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to peel back the layers a bit.
I'll be reading more from Avraham Gileadi.
February 12, 2021
I didn’t finish this book but I want to remember this book and hopefully read it again and finish it in the future sometime. It’s very interesting and thought-provoking.
February 16, 2023
Great Perspective
Sure had me in my muse. Very detailed introspection. I appreciate the efforts of the author to explain this beautiful and deep book from the Bible.
Sure had me in my muse. Very detailed introspection. I appreciate the efforts of the author to explain this beautiful and deep book from the Bible.
December 18, 2025
Wow! Excellent book. I highly recommend.
October 9, 2020
A very deep and thought provoking book. A very unique way of looking at the scriptures that was really insightful and rewarding.
Re-read February 2019: I liked it even more the second time around. This book is a treasure trove of true knowledge and wonderful insights about Isaiah and many other aspects of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Re-read February 2019: I liked it even more the second time around. This book is a treasure trove of true knowledge and wonderful insights about Isaiah and many other aspects of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
June 17, 2019
Great read for those new to Isaiah and experienced fans of Isaiah
I enjoy the book, it is part of my core Old Testament study project. I am about to hit Isaiah in my scripture study of Bible.
I enjoy the book, it is part of my core Old Testament study project. I am about to hit Isaiah in my scripture study of Bible.
October 22, 2016
Great book!!
This book answered questions I didn't even know I had. Isaiah and his writings are truly amazing. I would read this book again and again.
This book answered questions I didn't even know I had. Isaiah and his writings are truly amazing. I would read this book again and again.
August 21, 2016
Brilliant! Took me awhile to read through and digest, but fabulous insight!
October 28, 2015
Amazing ideas here. Very thought-provoking.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews