Yes—Isaiah 9:6 is a prophecy with a break: the birth of the Son is fulfilled, but the government on His shoulder remains future.
Isaiah 9:6 starts with a child born and a Son given—Les says that part was fulfilled at Christ's first coming. The verse then immediately moves to the government on His shoulder, which has not happened yet. So the verse is not one single completed prophecy but a prophecy with a future remainder.
Isaiah 9:6 — This is the verse the question asks about; its two parts are used to show fulfilled and future prophecy.
In the King James Version, Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:7 continues the same thought: "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Together, the two verses connect the birth of the child with an everlasting, righteous government on David's throne.
Les teaches, as he does throughout the Old Testament, that you must first determine to whom the prophecy is addressed. Isaiah 9:6 is written to the nation of Israel: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." He says the promised Son came at Christ's first advent, but His own refused Him. When Les reaches "and the government shall be upon His shoulder," he asks, "What government? The kingdom." He explains that "government" means Christ's rule on earth, including the thousand-year reign. Because the last half of the verse hasn't happened, Les says it is "interrupted." Les emphasizes that the interruption doesn't mean the prophecy failed. If everything spoken in prophecy had been fulfilled up to now, and this part had not, the word of God would be broken. God had the prerogative to interrupt and postpone it, just as Jesus stopped reading in Luke 4 at the fulfilled portion. The rest is still future.
Les tells readers to put a parenthesis after "son is given" in Isaiah 9:6. That opening part—"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given"—happened at Christ's first advent when the promised Son came to Israel. The last half of the verse, which speaks of the government being on His shoulder, is interrupted and has not happened yet.
According to Les, the word "government" in Isaiah 9:6 is a reference to the kingdom. He specifically identifies it with the ruling and reigning of the thousand years. This part is still future because Israel refused the promised Son at His first coming.
Les explains that God has the prerogative of interrupting prophecy. Jesus' reading in the synagogue in Luke 4 is an example: He stopped at the fulfilled portion and left the coming wrath and kingdom for a future day. The same principle applies to Isaiah 9:6—the unfulfilled government part is waiting for the future.
Les shows that Isaiah 9:6 looks forward to the coming kingdom. In the same context as the promise that nations will beat their swords into plowshares, Isaiah 9:6 announces the King on whose shoulder the government will rest. The prophecy, like the rest of the Old Testament, is addressed to the nation of Israel.
Isaiah 61 Interrupted in Luke 4
Les shows that prophecy can pass from a fulfilled portion to a postponed one; Jesus' reading in Luke 4 stopped at what was fulfilled and left the rest for a future time.
The Parenthesis in Isaiah 9:6
Les tells readers to put the parenthesis after "son is given" because Christ's birth was fulfilled at His first coming, while the government on His shoulder has not happened yet.
Why Jesus Came to Israel First — Luke 1 Explained
I know we looked at them in our last taping, maybe not the last program, but I'm sure it's in the last few programs. And here is the promise of that part of the covenant. Isaiah chapter 9, and drop right down into verse 6. 6 and 7. Very well known verses. Isaiah 9, verses 6 and 7.
First Determine the Audience
Les says readers must always ask to whom a passage is addressed; Isaiah 9:6 is a prophetic utterance given to the nation of Israel.
Names That Reveal Deity
Les notes the capitalized names in Isaiah 9:6 are terms associated with the coming King, the Messiah, the Son of God, later introduced as Jesus the Christ.
Kingdom Age Context
Les connects Isaiah 9:6 to kingdom prophecies like beating swords into plowshares, showing the verse is part of Israel's expectation of a future kingdom.
The Government Is the Thousand-Year Reign
Les explains that "the government" in Isaiah 9:6 refers to Christ's ruling and reigning during the thousand years, a throne event still future.
Christ's Return to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 Explained.
Alright, now then if you'll come back to Isaiah, I think it is, if you'll come back to Isaiah, the very last chapter, chapter 66, Isaiah chapter 66, and beginning with verse 7. Isaiah 66, verse 7, "...before she travailed," see there's that word again, speaking of delivery, "...before she travailed, she brought forth, before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child.
Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
This is the passage in question; its opening half speaks of the birth of the child and the final half speaks of the government on His shoulder.
Isaiah 9:7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The following verse shows the government is an everlasting kingdom on David's throne.
Psalm 2:6: Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Les pairs this verse with Isaiah 9:6 to show prophecy moving toward God's King on Zion.
No. According to Les, only the opening portion—"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given"—has been fulfilled. The part about the government being on His shoulder refers to the future kingdom and has not happened yet.
Les placed the parenthesis after "son is given" to mark what was fulfilled at Christ's first coming. Everything after that point, beginning with "and the government," is interrupted and still awaits future fulfillment.
Les says the word "government" in this verse refers to the kingdom, specifically Christ's thousand-year reign. It has not yet happened because Israel refused the promised Son at His first coming.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Old Testament Never Mentions the Church Age