3641 — Seven Women and One Man, Isa. 4:1
By Editor
Please give an explanation of Isa. 4:1 in the "Signs of the Times." One of the general meanings given to the text is that on account of the wars and judgments upon Israel, as set forth in the preceding chapters, so many men were destroyed in these various calamities, that but few men and many women were left, and many women would center around one man, and ask to be protected by him, while they were willing to support themselves. There is another meaning which is given to it — that is, a figurative meaning, that may have an application of worth and a lesson for the people who live in these days; and that meaning is this: The seven women denote the backslidden churches, seven indicating completeness, or fulness. That is, there will be a fulness of backsliding in the last days. The one "man" referring to our Lord Jesus Christ. And yet, while these churches are backslidden, still they will nominally be Christians. They wish the name and the prestige of the one Man, but they say, "We will eat our own bread" (that is, what the human can furnish, instead of feeding upon the Word of God), and we will "wear our own apparel" (that is, to be clothed in their own righteousness and conventionalities, instead of in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ), only we do not wish reproach, and therefore "let us be called by Thy name." How true this is in many individual cases at the present time! How many are really, as taught in the Word of God, not Christians; they do not believe in Christ as a living Saviour, the one atonement for men; and yet they call themselves Christians. Not believing in His vicarious sacrifice, they are not seeking His righteousness, but their own. They are feeding upon their own philosophies and traditions, instead of upon the Word of God; but they nominally call themselves Christians. But we are told in the next verse that there will be a people who will be true to God. "In that day shall the branch of Jehovah be beautiful and glorious." God will have a people who are loyal to Him.