The former things probably refers to prophecies of judgment by earlier prophets, and some prophecies spoken by Isaiah in chs. 1–35 (see also 42:9, 21–25; 43:9, 10; 46:8, 9; 48:3). Latter end of them may also be translated “their glorious future.” The phrase things to come may refer to the mighty acts God would do through Cyrus. Ultimately, things to come refers to the gathering of God’s people and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth. The point is that idols cannot tell the past or the