"For Zion's sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch." (Isaiah 62:1—The Amplified Bible. The Lockman Foundation, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, seventh printing, August, 1970.)

Compare the two translations above, of Isaiah 62:1. Look at the expression in the second translation: "until her imputed righteousness." I have found no other translation that inserts the adjective "imputed." Also I have checked reference works. I am not a Hebrew scholar but I do not see that this is a specialized Hebrew employment of "righteousness" such that a supporting adjective is required for elucidation.

If any of my readers knows a lexical basis for the insertion of "imputed" I would greatly appreciate the information. Until I become acquainted with data to the contrary I am assuming that the editor of The Amplified Bible has taken an unwarranted liberty.

To make matters worse there are no brackets or parentheses to indicate the term "imputed" was added by the editor. The ordinary believer will assume the only righteousness God can produce in His Church is that which He ascribes.

If I am correct in assuming there is no lexical basis for the term "imputed" but that it was added because of the personal belief of the translator, then we can see the enormous error existing in the minds of Evangelical people.

An engine of enormous power can be stopped by clipping a small but vital electrical wire. So it is true that the power of the Kingdom of God can be stopped by an error such as the belief that the only righteousness of the Kingdom of God is that which is ascribed to people who are continuing to sin, who have never undergone moral transformation. It truly is a deplorable situation.

The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. (Isaiah 62:2—NIV)

In the above verse we have the fulfillment of that which Jesus spoke: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify God."

We are a city set on a hill, the Lord said. That hill is Zion, the holy hill of God.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14—NIV)

In Jesus Christ is eternal life. This life is the only light of men. When the Life of Christ is in us, then we radiate the love, Person, will, and way of almighty God.

We do not have enough of the Life of Christ when we first are saved.

We do not have enough of the Life of Christ when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit.

We do not have enough of the Life of Christ to be the light of the world until we move past Pentecost and permit God and Christ to rule in the throne room of our personality. This means being crucified with Christ that He may live in us.

Now can you see how the feast of Tabernacles and the eternal Divine witness are related?

To be continued.