Many were the messages of comfort given the church by the prophets of old. "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people" (Isaiah 40:1.), was Isaiah's commission from God; and with the commission were given wonderful visions that have been the believers' hope and joy through all the centuries that have followed. Despised of men, persecuted, forsaken, God's children in every age have nevertheless 723 been sustained by His sure promises. By faith they have looked forward to the time when He will fulfill to His church the assurance, "I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." Isaiah 60:15.

De gamle profeter gav menigheden mange trøsterige budskaber. Gud pålagde Esajas at sige: "Trøst, ja trøst mit folk" (Es. 40,1). Samtidig med at profeten fik denne opfordring, så han nogle vidunderlige syner, som har været de troendes håb og glæde i alle de århundreder, som er forløbet siden. Guds børn er blevet foragtet, forfulgt og svigtet af mennesker, men gennem hele historien har hans sikre løfter holdt dem oppe. De har i tro set frem til den tid, da han vil opfylde dette løfte til sin menighed: "Jeg gør dig til evig højhed, til glæde fra slægt til slægt." Es. 60,15.