| Isaiah 1–39 | Isaiah 40–55 | Isaiah 56–66 |
Date and Setting | The eighth century B.C. (700s); the Assyrian threat | Prophecies for the sixth century B.C. (500s); the Babylonian exile | Prophecies about all times and occasions until the end |
Audience | God’s rebellious people craving worldly security | God’s defeated people under worldly domination | All who hold fast to God’s covenant |
Actions | God purifies a remnant of his apostate people through judgment | God encourages his discouraged people in exile | God prepares all of his true people for his promised salvation |
Message | “In returning and rest you shall be saved; . . . But you were unwilling” (30:15) | “the glory of the LORD shall be revealed” (40:5) | “Keep justice, and do righteousness” (56:1) |